Linda Vista-Annandale Association
Pasadena, CA
March 6, 2023
Pasadena City Council Legislative Policy Committee
Re: Committee Meeting 3/7/2023; Agenda Item 1; Public Park and Recreational Facility Naming Policy Review
Committee Members,
Thank you for another opportunity to comment on the City’s naming Policy for Public Parks. The Linda Vista-Annandale Association (LVAA) supports this effort.
The LVAA Board of Directors continues to be confused and concerned as to how the partnership of over 20 plus years between LVAA and surrounding neighbors, many of whom have died or no longer live in the Linda Vista-Annandale area, could be ignored in the naming process pursuant to the current naming policy for what is now called Annandale Canyon Park and located on Weirfield Drive. LVAA over the 20 plus years expended large amounts of effort, time and resources to save this area from intense development and convert it into a natural, passive public park. Yet, when it came time to decide on a formal Park name, we were ignored as was the history of the effort to create the Park. Most new parks in Pasadena are the result of various forms of public advocacy. The City’s naming Policy for Public Parks should take into account public Notice and participation for all those groups and individuals who played a role in Park formation including Neighborhood Associations.
Also, we continue to advocate for our choice of name for the new Park: Annandale Canyon Nature Preserve, along with supporting the proposed name for the Park Trail.
Our LVAA letter to the Council dated October 24, 2022, on the new names for the Park and the Trail is attached. It appears that formally selecting names for the Park and Trail are not on today’s Agenda. If this is the case, we respectfully request that naming decisions be made in the near future so that LVAA can promote the Park and Trail using correct names.
Thank you for your attention to our comments and concerns.
Sincerely,
Nina Chomsky
Nina Chomsky, LVAA President; cc: LVAA Board of Directors Linda Vista-Annandale Association
Pasadena, CA
October 24, 2022
Re: Annandale Canyon Park: Naming of Park and Trail; Council Meeting of 10-24-2022; Agenda Item 11.
Mayor Gordo and Councilmembers,
The Linda Vista-Annandale Association (LVAA) appreciates the opportunity to comment on this Agenda Item which has direct importance to and impact on LVAA.
LVAA has a long record of involvement with this Park area. The proposed formal naming of the area is one of the last step in a long process over 20 plus years to save natural, beautiful and environmentally sensitive Annandale Canyon from intense and undesirable development and to dedicate the Canyon to publicly accessible passive recreational Park use in perpetuity. LVAA’s efforts were made in partnership and cooperation with adjacent neighbors, but LVAA was a “prime mover” in this long but ultimately successful effort.
How ironic then that LVAA was not contacted or consulted, and our opinions not sought at all in this naming effort. Public outreach for this naming effort was minimal and weak, and ignored many throughout our neighborhood and the City, including LVAA.
Having pointed out this oversight “for the record,” first, LVAA supports the naming of the Trail reflecting the indigenous First peoples who occupied this area. The Canyon is a place for Birding and is a recognized Flyway for local and migrating Birds. How appropriate that the proposed indigenous name means generally “Place of Birds.”
As to the Park name, we have some concerns discussed at a recent LVAA Board meeting. The term “Preserve,” while connoting “preservation” which certainly is an important aspect of this Park effort, might also connote that this is a private area. The Canyon Park is NOT private; it is a Pasadena public Park open to everyone in the City and ALL are welcome to experience and enjoy this natural area. Therefore, to reduce any confusion about status, and also clarify that this is a natural Park, LVAA suggests the following Park name: ANNANDALE CANYON NATURE PRESERVE.
Thank you for considering LVAA’s suggestion for the naming of the Park, and we hope that you will agree and adopt Annandale Canyon Nature Preserve as the Park name.
Sincerely,
Linda Vista-Annandale Association
/s/ Nina Chomsky
By: Nina Chomsky, LVAA President
cc: LVAA Board of Directors