Yes, the state has a budget crisis, but I don't think selling the
fairgrounds is a good solution. The location of the fairgrounds is
already too congested and the current traffic isn't accommodated by
the existing roads. Selling the fairgrounds and moving it to the
Great Park will only create more congestion in an already congested
area. Who knows what the buyer would build -- more development?
It is also important for the fairgrounds to remain in Costa Mesa.
It brings revenue to the city, public and nonprofit events are held
there and it is easily accessed.
The Great Park on the other hand, is not easily accessed except by
South County residents, is possibly a toxic site and the clean up
will take years. In my opinion the Great Park should not be built but
I'm obviously in the minority, as a few have convinced many that it
is a good idea.
PAT NANGLE
Newport Beach
What a wonderful idea for the Orange County Fair and for the city
of Costa Mesa. The fairground operations have outgrown the limited
space within Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa is in dire need of recreational
space. Merging the current fairgrounds space with the marginal
facilities at Orange Coast College, Farm Sports Complex, Costa Mesa
High School, Davis Elementary School and the nice, but limited,
facilities at TeWinkle Park, would bring a first class multi-use
recreational facility.
Keep the stables and the riding facilities. Integrate them to the
Back Bay by building a path down Mesa Avenue. Add a 50-meter pool for
OCC and Costa Mesa High Water Polo and Swimming teams, as well as
general recreational use.
Include the long-promised Skate Park and expand the Bark Park to
rotate space for grass rejuvenation. Add more tennis courts and
bleachers. Add more soccer fields and baseball diamonds. Link the
park to the rest of the city with well-designed and marked bicycle
trails east, west, south and north.
Include barbecue and picnic tables, centralized in the middle of
the park and away from the Mesa del Mar residences. Zone the corners
on Fair Drive for family-oriented restaurants, with tax revenue going
to park maintenance. Clean up the TeWinkle ponds and include zoning
for a cafe between the ponds and the tennis courts.
Parking would need to be primarily centered off Fair Drive, with
smaller lots spread throughout the park, but away from the Mesa del
Mar residential area. In fact, the Mesa del Mar homeowners should be
afforded a permit system to keep their streets from being overloaded.
BILL JORTH
Costa Mesa
