Southeast : PARK RULES

The concept of public access to private land has long provided a goal for Whittier officials involved in million-dollar deals aimed at conserving near-pristine territory north of city limits. But only recently have they considered what that access would mean for the average outdoorsman.

Now City Council members are working to lay down the rules for anyone who would visit the more than 1,500 acres of wildlife that could open before summer. So far, suggestions lean toward safety and preservation as officials prepare to hire a full-time park ranger to patrol the park.

“[The park] could be ruined by having too many people in it and tromping all over it,” said Councilman Bob Henderson.

A community task force recently recommended closing the park to overnight campers and anyone else who would build a campfire. The group wants to leave the entire area open to hikers but limit bicyclists and horse riders to certain portions of the park.

Council members are also considering maintaining a fence around the park’s perimeter to keep out unauthorized vehicles.

Together with representatives from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, city workers are looking for volunteers to start forging trails through the park. Certain sensitive areas may be intentionally isolated, however, especially where former oil fields left roads that must be replanted.

Any rule against overnight camping may contain an exception for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Henderson said, as long as they promise not to build fires.