County’s ‘No Fly’ Plan Draws Fire

Since Orange is a Republican county, I am not really surprised at all that the Board of Supervisors wants our county to go into business to make profits in Mile Square Park (“Plane Hobbyists Fear ‘No-Fly’ Zone at Park,” Oct. 9).

I am not a model airplane hobbyist, but I am a witness that the model airplane flyers have been at Mile Square before it ever was Mile Square, from the early 1960s and probably the decade before that.

The whole idea of a taxpayer-funded public park is to have it be for recreation and fun at no further expense, not to have it be a profit-run government amusement park. Since the county admits the second golf course is to be a business, I am surprised they haven’t charged the public for walk-in admission to the rest of the park already!

What hasn’t been addressed is how much enjoyment nonflyers have by watching those model airplanes fly! The friendly, socially interactive model flyers demonstrate their craftsmanship and are giving the public many free pleasures with their show of working scale models. That’s a volunteer public service, not an uneconomical, selfish pastime!

RONALD KINUM

Huntington Beach

* Orange County currently boasts one of the finest model aircraft flying sites in the Southern California area. The park is, after all, an abandoned military airfield and is beautifully suited for this purpose. Unfortunately, the model flying community does not have much political clout, and I am certain that once the developers and the politicians have had their way, the last remaining public flying site in Orange County will be history.

It is my understanding that there are currently 57 golf courses in our county and only one legal model aircraft flying site. It is my opinion that this closure will have a significantly negative impact on a large number of people.

I would appreciate it if [county supervisors] would at some point go to Mile Square Park and observe the number of families enjoying the model aircraft flying site, spectators as well as flyers. I do not believe that they will be able to find the same amount of family involvement on any of the golf courses in our county.

The building and flying of model aircraft is a most worthwhile activity for families, and has had a significant impact in my life and that of my son.

If there is any possible way to save Mile Square Park as a site for the flying of model aircraft, I am certain that significant community support could be engendered toward that end. Once it has been taken away, there will be no way to ever get it back.

KENDALL S. WAGNER

Fullerton

* Closing the only public model airplane flying area in Orange County to develop yet another golf course shows how easily government officials can target their most vulnerable and least vocal citizens.

Model aviation appeals to all ages, but it means most to the youngest and oldest among us. It stimulates young people to careers in aviation and engineering, and spurs academic achievement. My own childhood interest in model aircraft led me to a PhD in aeronautical engineering. And model airplanes have played a formative role for almost every U.S. astronaut.

Model aviation also occupies hundreds of seniors and those displaced from our shrinking aerospace industry. Many of these longtime residents have made major decisions on where they live and work based on the Mile Square Park flying field.

Even worse, those being hurt by this closing are usually not golfers, baseball, soccer or tennis players, or surfers. For most of those being displaced, the model flying area is the only public recreation facility they’ve ever used.

That’s why it seems particularly arrogant and insensitive when Rich Adler, chief of the revenue development section of Orange County’s Harbors, Beaches and Parks Department, is quoted as saying that the model plane hobbyists who use the park “. . . have had a great thing going for years for free.” Isn’t he talking about the taxpayers and residents who pay his salary and whom he’s supposed to help serve?

Instead of closing this public park in order to make still another golf course, Adler and his department should be fighting to save the site for the youngsters and senior citizens who use it, and who expect their government to protect their interests, not threaten them.

DON M. SCHRELLO

Long Beach