Recreation

Letter to the Editor, Five Cities Times Press Recorder, January 9,2008:

The Oceano Beach and Dunes can provide wonderful family recreation.The SVRA is a state park but the use promoted is vehicular. Campersat the SVRA have to mark their undesignated campsites with yellowpolice tape to protect their children from accidents withunrestrained vehicle users.

There are only 4 or 5 rangers on duty during peak SVRA use times,to regulate a temporary city of over 50,000 people. Illegalfireworks, drinking, drug use, and violence occur without restraint.

Adults and children in gasoline powered vehicles tear up the sand,pollute the air, and drive illegally in the creek and on the beach,destroying habitat for flora and fauna with complete disregard forthe welfare of others.

The Oceano Beach and Dunes is a richly diversified habitat for manyspecies of plants and animals with a long history including NativeAmericans and Dunites.

Family Recreation in the SVRA fosters disregard for the welfare ofnature and of humanity. Is this the purpose of the California StateDepartment of Parks and Recreation? Not according to their ownliterature. Is this what we want to teach our children, by promotinguse of the SVRA as "family recreation?"

Linda Rollison

10/18/2010: Bakersfield.com "'Come what may and love it' -- a determined teen confronts paralysis" menu