The City Council and park district aren't listening to residents

My wife and I read the agitated words of Mr. Bohlke in his letter "Selfish objections to pavilion plan" regarding the proposed building of a party pavilion on what is now open land in the Rancho Potrero area of Newbury Park.

We're 18-year residents of Newbury Park. Before that, I had hiked and camped in this area in my teens. My family now lives in the Dos Vientos area.

We were involved and active in the preservation of this space some 14 years ago, when it became evident that the Dos Vientos development would be built. So we worked with neighbors to reduce its impact on the environment.

For nine months, my family, my friends, my neighbors and I wrote, beseeched and attended meetings of our City Council. We worked very hard to reduce the traffic influence on the community, force sound mitigation features to the project, make the builder abide by environmental requirements, and, most relevantly, reduce significantly the density of construction.

We're not just "Dos Vientos" development residents; we are Newbury Park residents. The whole town is our "backyard." And the countless friends and neighbors I know that oppose this outrageous plan are residents of Newbury Park, all over town.

Over these 18 years, my family and I have followed the history of attempts to pave over this fragile and beautiful area of open space. This "pavilion" is the latest assault.

Informed Newbury Park residents and local equestrians should be thanked for holding politicians accountable in how they choose to shape our environment. Who else but us neighbors should watch out for our community's "backyard"?

I've been doing it for 18 years, Mr. Bohlke, regardless of my street address in Newbury Park.

Most folks I know are not headlong against any improvements in Rancho Potrero. We support adding access parking, trails, picnic tables, instructive signage: all for families to enjoy.

We support improvements to the equestrian center. We support community access to a rural, clean and open space.

We oppose paving the land for a huge pavilion for corporate and private parties. We oppose installing dangerous firepits next to this sensitive area- - some of us saw it burn not so long ago. And we oppose the paving over of swaths of open land.

If that makes us NIMBY citizens, I for one am proud of it. Stewardship of our local environment for us and our children is laudable, not selfish. Edward and Kathryn Cruz Newbury Park