With two boys, now 18 and 12, we’ve spent many enjoyable days at the golf course as they grew up and have driven past the site often. We love the golf course as a recreation site, but also as the gateway to the open space between Lowell Avenue and Sunland Boulevard.
With the recent approval of the Canyon Hills project and numerous “in-fill” developments in the immediate vicinity of the golf course, it’s clear the area has had its share of development.
I’m not opposed to new housing by any means, but there are better locations and better plans, especially locations that are not presently in use as an asset to our open space and recreation needs.
My primary concern is the need to protect this valuable open space and recreation space for kids and for people who enjoy the outdoors.
Since learning of the development plans, I’ve talked to dozens of friends and several high school golf and sports coaches in the area.
I’ve talked to the owner of a local sporting goods company who grew up in the area and recalls that many of the places where he and friends played as kids are no longer in existence.
They all hope to see the site enhanced for recreational use.
Being very involved in coaching youth baseball and soccer over the years, I can attest to the shortage of recreation space in the Crescenta Valley area.
The battle for field time for a variety of sports is ongoing and increasingly futile.
Our kids have fewer and fewer nearby recreation options.
I’ve recently heard of Supervisor Michael Antonovich and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel getting involved to look at ways of preserving the location in its current or enhanced use and appreciate their involvement very much.
It’s going to take time for precious funds to be found and committed to preserve this space and for a long-term vision for the space to gain consensus.
I’d encourage the Glendale News-Press to join with the active, outdoor-loving members of the community and support the efforts of the Verdugo Hills Golf Course Committee to give the community, the developer and our local elected officials the time needed to nail down a plan that saves the golf course as a recreational and open-space location.
DAVE DE PINTO is a Sunland resident.
