The NAP proposal designates 9.5 of the 12.6 acres in this park as a “natural area”.  The areas that are excluded from the “natural area” are the playground and Randall Museum which make up the southern 1/3 of the park, and the fenced Dog Play Area (DPA).  These areas will remain unchanged.  This park does have a high level of recreational use.  Almost 1/3 of the trails system in this park is to be closed by NAP. 

There is no species of plant, bird, butterfly, or animal present in this park that is listed by the State or Federal government as threatened or endangered.  The habitat in this park for birds is limited.  This NAP proposal for Corona Heights violates the underlying premise for NAP.  As stated by NAP Director Lisa Wayne, “preserve what is left of the original habitat and protect it from further degradation…enhance these little remnants that are degraded”.  There is only one habitat here to protect, .16 acres of native coast live oak forest in the center of the park.  Had the NAP proposal limited itself to that area, it would be appropriate.  However, NAP states specifically there is a “potential” habitat in this park for birds and butterflies which they hope to create.  Does this desire to create habitat justify the destruction of wildlife, trees and plants, as well as the limitation of recreational access to the public?  NAP’s plan for Corona Heights includes the following:

·        Augmentation and reintroduction of “sensitive” species of plants to attempt to justify the closures.  Please note the designation of “sensitive” is not mandated by the State or Federal government.  This designation was assigned by local native plant and bird enthusiasts.  It is an arbitrary designation, not an official one.

·        Elimination of 1843 feet of the social trails commonly utilized by people and dogs.

·        Visitors to the park will be restricted to the trails NAP has designated, by fencing if NAP deems it necessary.

·        15 Monterey pine trees will be removed.  Beyond that, destruction of non-native saplings and seedlings (these are by common definition trees) in areas designated by NAP shall be in total.  NAP officials do not believe they need to be accountable to the public for the number of seedlings or saplings they remove.  Please see Wayne’s World Item #4 for further explanation.

·        Destruction of non-native plants and shrubs at NAP discretion.

·        Reduction in “predation pressure”.  This would refer to the killing of feral cats and any other wildlife NAP deems unacceptable.

·        Destruction of all plants near the entrances of the park, to be replaced with native plant gardens.

NAP has refused to disclose the cost to create this habitat.  Are these funds that could better be spent elsewhere in the park system?  Will there be the manpower and funds to maintain this new habitat?  Will it be sustainable?