Let nature take its course

Re “Greening Griffith Park,” editorial, May 23

As someone who has regularly hiked in Griffith Park for more than 40 years, I must say that your suggestion to allow the park to restore itself naturally is an excellent one. I would add that the introduction of nonnative plants has caused problems that made the fire worse.

The upper reaches of the park were littered for many years with dead and dying eucalyptus and pine trees. When these trees ignited, they contributed mightily to the fire. Although golfers and lower park picnickers might like the shade, there is no reason to replace the trees at the higher elevations.

This suggests that the celebrated upper park “attractions” of Dante’s View and Captain’s Roost should not be repaired. They are two islands of nonnative plants that almost everyone passes on the way to the peak of Mt. Hollywood, which does have a 360-degree, panoramic view. Restoring these areas is a waste of the taxpayers’ money.

JACK STESNEY

Van Nuys