Chatsworth Reservoir

Howard Greitzer, AYSO Commissioner, thinks there is room for youth sports in the Chatsworth Reservoir (“Sports Facilities for Girls,” May 3). Great idea, why don’t we pave it and put in a mini-mall as well? Here is the last open space in the Valley, and it continues to be threatened by short-sighted, self-serving interests. The kids and their kids would be better served for the reservoir to remain untouched and preserved. The reservoir is home to many species of animals: bobcats, deer, coyotes, birds and rabbits. The beautiful rolling oak savannah is our last remnant of what the Valley looked like before modern times.

Through the leadership of Councilman Hal Bernson and the City Council, steps are being taken to direct the Department of Water and Power, which owns the property, to lease it to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It would be designated a wildlife preserve and would provide ranger-supervised public use. I strongly urge the City Council and DWP to finalize this agreement as soon as possible. Greitzer is right in stating that we should support the children of this community, but solving the current problem of the shortage of youth sports areas through an incursion into the reservoir is not the best solution.

PATRICIA P. EVERETT, Chatsworth