WHY I SUPPORT ‘BEAUTIFY LUNADA BAY’
“I love the authentic wild areas in my neighborhood!”
The Problem:
Unfortunately they are literally slipping away. Lunada Bay has experienced several bluff failures in recent years on both public and private property. My favorite trail to the bay is now off limits due to slippage. Cycles of mud/dust and weeds/barren earth are unpleasant for humans, unhealthy for wildlife, and cause devastating erosion. These effects are caused by human activity, not natural processes.
The Science:
Is there a better way? This is the scientific question being studied by the ‘Beautify Lunada Bay Pilot’. In December PVHS students will be transecting the site and documenting what they find in order to create a baseline of the unimproved site. In the spring after planting they will revisit the site and follow the same process. It will be passed to following classes year to year and provide hard concrete data on the success and failure of various aspects of the project.
Habitat:
Ask any 3rd grader about the benefits. Thanks to the PVPLC all 3rd grade students are given a special docent led nature walk and ‘Nature Notebook’ lessons that mesh with their curriculum standards. Plant selections for the Beautify Lunada Bay Pilot include those highlighted in these lessons. The flowering plants, seeds and berries will attract birds and butterflies to the area creating a lively healthy ecosystem.
More Education:
The 5th grade classes will also be expanding their studies to embrace the amenities provided by Beautify Lunada Bay. New lessons are already in the works.
Location:
Proximity to schools and neighborhood accessibility were priorities in selecting this site. It is also fairly typical of the open spaces in Lunada Bay. The project will be on view for everyone to experience. Ongoing site evaluation includes public response. The feedback loop is a good thing.
Beautiful Views:
Community surveys consistently show that attractive views are valued in our neighborhoods. Low growing natives provide year round interest with little care or water as they are perfectly suited to our micro-climate.
Walkin’ the Talk:
Personally, when I walk along the bluffs, I want to be enmeshed in a healthy living ecosystem, with natural smells, thriving plants and abundant wildlife. A technicolor sunset is amazing, but scuffling around in thorny tumbleweeds on dead compacted earth is a contradictory experience.
Show me the money:
Support from donations and volunteer time has been extraordinary. Most of the neighbors are in favor of the project and others are taking a ‘wait and see’ attitude. I am so appreciative of the willingness of the community to try something new and look for solutions outside their everyday experience.
Cooperation:
The Beautify Lunada Bay Pilot represents the historical first time collaboration between the city of PVE, PVPLC, and LBHOA. The city owns the land and with current budget concerns, finding more effective long-range techniques for management of our parkland is important. PVPLC has expertise in creating and maintaining native habitats. Education and volunteerism have always been the cornerstones of their restoration work. LBHOA brings the community out to play, volunteering, communicating, and organizing efforts that benefit residents.
The Future:
It is my wish that the community be able to enjoy the benefits of enriched, sustainable parkland. A focus on education and providing learning opportunities are a big part of the fabric of our community. Making a place for students to have a living laboratory, right in our own neighborhood, is a natural extension of these values. Yes, there will be change, a good change, a healthy change, a pleasurable change, a change for a sustainable future.
Gratitude:
Thanks to the many dedicated volunteers making it happen, to supporters who gave donations and kind words, and to the city of PVE for looking forward with a broader vision.
