COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:There's hope for Verdugo Hills course

After reading the article "Developer wants to close course" July 13 in the News-Press, one might be inclined to despair that saving the Verdugo Hills Golf Course is a lost cause.

Far from it.

The doomsday tone came from direct quotes from Dale Thrush, planning director to Los Angeles City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, which almost seemed congratulatory of MWH Development Corp.'s beefed-up plans to build 229 single-family homes on the existing golf course and to scratch plans for an executive golf course.

But Thrush is only one voice in this scenario. Many other voices are optimistic about the potential to preserve the golf course.

The Verdugo Hills Golf Course Committee has met twice with Greuel, the latest being a significant meeting in March, in which she was joined by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, then-Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver and members of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, wherein all attending dignitaries expressed support for the idea of a multi-jurisdictional purchase of the golf course from the developer.

This is crucial because even though the golf course is technically in the city of Los Angeles, support for its preservation comes from outside its boundaries.

Now that the agreed-upon 30-day period to research funding options is long past, our committee has made clear to Greuel's office our desire to reconvene to discuss the specifics of such a purchase. We are confident she will respond.

There is hope for the Verdugo Hills Golf Course yet. It lies in the fact that we have an impassioned community dedicated to preserving the golf course, we have willing participants from Los Angeles County, Glendale and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to help make a joint purchase happen. Now all we need is some action from Greuel — the key player, since the golf course lies in her jurisdiction.

The Verdugo Hills Golf Course Committee is confident that once Greuel realizes we have been knocking and knocking on her door, she will fulfill her commitment to come to the table and work out a deal to purchase the Verdugo Hills Golf Course. Greuel takes pride in her commitment to recreational and open spaces, and residents need to emphasize to her that this golf course is a vital resource to our community.

Write to Greuel and express your support for a multi-jurisdictional purchase to preserve the Verdugo Hills Golf Course. Write to the Glendale City Council members and Antonovich asking them to encourage Greuel to work a deal to purchase the golf course.

Saving the Verdugo Hills Golf Course is not out of reach. In fact, it is a completely viable goal if we can just get Greuel to lead the process to make a multi-jurisdictional purchase happen.