Our Photo Page gives you the opportunity to see/review past photos and events that we have discussed, referred to, and/or posted since SBPC's inception.
Please come back often to see updated postings and photos as we continue promoting parklands for the South Bay. |
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Check Out the Following Photos...
• Aerial View of AES Site Taken In August of 2007
• View Of Old Salt Lake
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"This painting
[below] depicts what the Redondo Salt Lake could have looked like before the Spanish began settling on the Pacific Coast (1769). The Salt Lake was located where the AES Power Plant now sits. As an artist, I took on that project
because I believe in and wanted to support the goals of the South Bay Parkland Conservancy. I spent approximately 6 months researching. I did not discover any photographs or pictures of the site prior to industrialization.
During the research period, with a camera in hand, I visited the Malibu Lagoon, Dockweiler State Beach, Palos Verdes Botanical Gardens, Madrona Marsh, Bolsa Chica Wet Lands, Redondo Beach and its pier. From written documents and my field trips,
I formulated ideas and sketches about the salt lake area."
"With hundreds of reference photos, many written accounts and my sketches I was ready to paint. I decided to paint with acrylics because I could be specific and, if need be, I could change my mind without starting over.
I wanted the painting to make one feel like they were walking into the past. I believe I have accomplished my goal. Enjoy the past, and help make some of it part of our future. With your help, our community can restore
the area for public use. Instead of mixed-use development plans or golf courses, we could enjoy a natural salt lake that would attract hummingbirds, great blue herons and egrets. The community could restore the land to include
natural areas that attract wildlife and allow for multiple uses by generations to come."
Thelma J. Muzik, Artist
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Riviera Fair was June 27th and 28th, 2009...
Come visit our booth at the Riviera Village Festival on June 27th and 28th from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM! Learn more about our planned activities and goals, and how you can participate to create a legacy of open space in the South Bay!
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Earth Day (April 22) 2009 - Former SBPC President Named “Environmental Hero”
Former SBPC President, Bill Brand, took a break from staffing SBPC’s booth at the Earth Day celebration at Pollywog Park to receive some well deserved recognition. Volunteers and Organizations Improving
the Community’s Environment (VOICE) presented Bill with their “Environmental Hero” Award. The picture below shows Bill receiving the award from VOICE President, Kay Sherback (left). Bill is flanked by
former Manhattan Beach Mayor, Jim Aldinger, and current Mayor of Manhattan Beach, Portia Cohen. Good on you, Bill! Well earned.
Bill Brand with Kay Sherback, Jim Aldinger, and Portia Cohen
Look for the SBPC Booth at the Sea Lab Earth Day Event on April 25th and see our new banner with Thelma Muzik’s painting of the old Redondo salt marsh. Sign up to be a member, get up to speed on our current
activities, donate to the cause or better yet volunteer to help us grow parkland in the South Bay!
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Don’t Pave Seaside Lagoon for a Parking Lot !
The SBPC Board of Director’s swung into action when staff presented Seaside Lagoon concepts that all included reducing the usable open space by paving a portion of the open space over for a parking
lot. SBPC Board Members spoke out at City Council, Harbor Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission meetings requesting that all usable open space be preserved in the selected design concept.
The Harbor Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission each made recommendations that the council delete the parking lot that encroached on current open space. The Council concurred and directed City
staff to delete the parking lot encroachment from the selected concept drawing and associated text. Thanks to the Redondo Beach Boat Owners Association and other residents that showed their support for
preserving the Seaside Lagoon open space!
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SBPC Position on Redondo’s Green Task Force Sustainable City Document.
The Green Task Force recommendations on sustainable development include one specific recommendation that relates to parkland. This recommendation states that development of a Regional Park would generate more traffic
and cost the city more in maintenance than multiple pocket parks. The recommendation states that development of a regional park would be contrary to the goals of the specific recommendation. SBPC believes that Redondo
Beach should increase the amount of parks and open space of all sizes. SBPC also maintains that the statements on traffic and maintenance are unsubstantiated. City Parks and Recreation Director, Mike Witsanski has stated
that pocket parks cost more to maintain than the same acreage of larger parks. He also stated that pocket parks cannot meet all the recreational needs of the community. Traffic engineer trip generation tables contradict
the Green Task Force statements that a regional park would create more traffic. According to these tables, a Regional Park generates less than 11 average daily car trips per acre. This is one of the lowest trip generation
values in the Trip Generation Tables. For example a 50 acre regional park would generate under 550 trips per day. If that same 50 acres were zoned R-3 (condos at 17 units per acre), the condos would generate just under
5000 car trips per day. Retail and restaurant uses would generate far more. While SBPC applauds the efforts of the Green Task Force, we take exception to this specific finding. SBPC supports the additional of all sizes
of parkland in Redondo.
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March 2009 - Bill Brand Wins City Council Race.
Congratulations to Former SBPC President, Bill Brand, for winning his City Council bid. Bill had three strong competitors, but still won over 50% of the vote in District 2. This is almost unheard of for a non-incumbent candidate.
Bill’s main campaign platform included cleaning up blighted property (like the abandoned carwash on Torrance Blvd); revitalizing the harbor including reasonable development, and of course, creating a park on the AES powerplant site
and the Edison power line right of way. Bill’s election is a clear indication that the people of District 2 support parkland expansion.
Bill Brand is Sworn-In as District 2 City Councilman on April 8th, 2009
Bill Brand Supporters Have a Special Celebration After his Victory at the Polls
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Below is a an oblique rendering of an adaptation of the "Katherine Spitz Associates - Active" site created by Paul Schlichting:
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March 2009 - SBPC concludes participation in Redondo’s Growth and Traffic Management Committee.
The last meeting for the Redondo Beach Growth and Traffic Management Committee concluded with the approval of a draft Circulation and Housing Element, both parts of the General Plan. Former SBPC President, Bill Brand participated in the committee on behalf of SBPC.
Current SBPC President, Jim Light, also served on the Committee representing Building A Better Redondo, as did Board Member Dave Wiggins, representing Sierra Club. The draft circulation element and housing elements call for establishing acceptable traffic standards and
accommodating the state Regional Housing Need Allotment of over 2000 new residential units within existing zoning. The documents must be approved by City Council and the Housing Element must eventually be accepted by the state. SBPC’s major concern with the documents
is the request to explore Transit Oriented Development (TOD). City Staff’s vision for TOD includes high density residential development over 50 units per acre. SBPC supports exploring retail and office TOD without the residential component. These densities of residential
development would only exacerbate the shortage of parkland in the South Bay.
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December 20, 2008 - Jim Light New President of SBPC.
Jim Light was a founding Director of the SBPC and has been very active in the community for many years. He is now back with the SBPC, and just last week was elected to replace Bill Brand as President. Bill Brand has resigned his post to run for City
Council in Redondo Beach this coming March. We welcome Jim in his new role and look forward to his leadership in the SPBC.
Jim Light and Bill Brand (past SBPC President) were visiting the AES Plant on December 11th as part of a tour given by AES for SBPC, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the consultants they have hired to
conduct feasibility studies on the potential for purchasing and restoring some or all of this property for public use. It was a beautiful day and we had quite a view from the platforms high over King Harbor... click here to read more...
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Below is a photo of Jim Light and Bill Brand at the AES site on December 11th, 2008
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November 30, 2008 - Both Measures DD and EE Pass - with DD Receiving a Larger Majority - 58.5%.
So what does this mean for our park vision? If this City Council, or any future City Council, rezones this property for anything other than industrial uses or a park, it will have to be approved by the public. FINALLY, the residents have a binding safety valve,
not just an advisory vote, against any redevelopment plan that does not have community support...
...Higher property values, more sales tax revenue and higher lease rates increases City revenues. Study after study has been published on the financial and health benefits to areas with ample park space...
" click here to read more...
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October 19, 2008 - Election Issue DD Will Help Promote the Park.
On October 16th, The Daily Breeze published an Editorial by SBPC President Bill Brand describing how Measure DD will help support the public vote-preferred Park, while Measure EE will not... "The goal to purchase the AES power plant in Redondo Beach
and restore it to a public park is alive and well. The vision that was approved in the 2005 advisory vote is slowly moving forward despite our economic woes, and despite the continued opposition from those that would still like to see a development
plan here..." click here to read more...
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October 6, 2008 - GREAT NEWS !!!
While the country and the State of California reel from financial woes, they are both still operating and important needs like more park space are still being addressed.
AB31, which the South Bay Parkland Conservancy has been advocating for 2 years now, was approved by the legislature and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger Thursday, October 2nd...
click here to read more...
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Recently...
Redondo Beach and AES Settle Outstanding Tax Dispute, SBPC's Efforts Toward Converting AES Site to a Park Gets Support From The Sierra Club's South Bay Open Space Task Force, and
Riviera Village Fair Participation Shows Much Interest From The Public In Creating More Local Parklands. Check our Updates and Newsletters pages for more information.
Together We Can Make This Happen !!.
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June, 2008,
The Sierra Club "South Bay Open Bay Task Force" Announces Its Support of SBPC's Efforts to Convert the AES Power Plant Site to a Park. To See the Flyer Describing the Alliance,
and For More Information, click here.
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On Thursday, April 24th, 2008, 6:30pm
at the Veterans Park Historical Library, SBPC's Bill Brand and the State Coastal Conservancy discussed progress and next steps on establishing the AES
Power Plant Site as open space. Please click here to see the flyer for more information on what was discussed.
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On Monday, December 17th, 2007, SBPC's Bill
Brand appeared on CNN's Local Edition on Time Warner Cable,
hosted by Ben McCain.
They discussed the origin of the
South Bay Parkland Conservancy, recent parkland studies, the process, vision, and feasibility
of establishing a park at the AES site.
To see this 5 minute interview, click on the image
at left. Thank you to Time Warner.
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Thursday, October 11th, at 7 p.m., saw a community event at the Veterans Park Historical Library just south of the Redondo Pier. Featured was the California Coastal Conservancy, Mike Witzansky of the Parks and Rec. in Redondo Beach, and the beloved Martin Byhower of the local Audubon chapter and Harbor Park fame. They just got $117 million in restoration funds from Proposition O for their park. $117 MILLION!! That's not a typo. We heard how they did it !!
ALSO...
Read Bill Brand's recent editorial in the June 8th, 2007 issue of The Daily Breeze.
It is in the June (8th) Heart Park Update. You may either go to our 'Updates' page, or click here to view.
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Camaraderie at Beach Bluffs Restoration!
The South Bay Parkland Conservancy sponsored the second annual 'Down and
Dirty' Beach Bluff Restoration event. People came out Saturday, May 26th, at 9a to help weed, water and plant.
We worked the area below Miramar Park on the southern end of the Esplanade in Redondo Beach. This project
is part of an ongoing effort by the Beach Bluff Restoration Project, the SEALab,
and the City of Redondo Beach.
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DeSal Pow-Wow was Thursday, Sept 14th, 2007...
About 50 people, including local residents, City waterfront leaseholders, and two Redondo Beach City Councilmen, attended a lively meeting to discuss the possibility of putting a temporary desalinization plant on a small part of the AES site.
The mood was generally cautious as Paul Shoenberger of the West Basin Municipal Water District discussed the District's proposal. The public had many questions, including some about the appearance, duration and environmental impacts of the plant, as well as whether there would be any jobs provided to the local community. For more information about the Pow-Wow, go to the September 16th, 2007 Update on our Updates page where you can retrieve more information.
Assistant General Manager Paul Schoenberger, center, discussed the plan that the West Basin Municipal Water District would like to propose for a three-to-five year desalinization plan on the AES property. Panelists included, from left, Joe Geever of The Surfrider Foundation, Tim Blair of the Municipal Water District, Mr. Scheonberger, Conner Everts of The DeSal Resource Group, and moderator Bill Brand, President of the South Bay Parkland Conservancy, which hosted the event.
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Check out the following Photos. These are: a concept for the "Passive" design for the park, a concept for the "Active" design for the park, and an Aerial view of the old Salt Lake. Click on each to see larger image...
To see more photos - of such as early Redondo Beach and the Old Salt Lake, check out our February Update on our Updates Page.
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EARTH DAY was Saturday, April 22nd, 2007...
U.S. Congresswoman Jane Harman discusses Heart Park with South Bay Parkland Conservancy officers Bill Brand and Don Vangeloff at the SBPC's exhibit booth at Polliwog Park on Earth Day.
The South Bay Parkland Conservancy had Earth Day exhibit booths at both Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach, and the Sea Lab
on Harbor Drive in Redondo Beach. A good part of the time and effort went to informing the public about the progress of Heart Park.
Interest in and support for Heart Park is growing !! |
Other Recent News:
For other recent news and developments ...
Visit our Updates and Newsletters pages to find out about other South Bay parkland Conservancy activities.
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