Quality Parks Mean Quality Life

* Re “Parks: O.C.’s Great Outdoors,” Feb. 20:

Your editorial was right on the mark. Orange County is blessed with many wonderful parks, some of which are large enough to be ecologically self-sustaining.

The Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, its adjoining neighbors, Crystal Cove State Park, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park and the city of Irvine’s dedicated open spaces in Bommer and Shady Canyons, comprise just such a system.

With over 17,000 acres of dedicated open space, Orange County can be proud of an urban wilderness that few other such populous areas in our country can match.

We know the county supervisors have a difficult task of balancing various needs and that safety and health must be at the top of the agenda.

However, health comes in many forms, and quality parks with their relaxing open space, clean air and quiet, natural sounds add not just quality but years to a person who chooses to enjoy open-space experience.

As previously endorsed in your Feb. 17 editorial “Yes on Proposition 12 and 13,” we also encourage voters to speak out in favor of providing long-overdue funding for parks and open space.

Orange County projects include Chino Hills Visitor Center, Discovery Science Center, Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. These funds do not preclude but supplement our local support.

We join with your editorial board in urging the county supervisors to treat our parks “not as a stepchild” but as an essential part of the Orange County quality-of-life experience.

MICHAEL PINTO

President

Laguna Canyon Foundation