Developers should step up to the plate on Kmart

I never thought of developers as philanthropists, but Conejo Valley is in great need of such people.

As I read numerous letters to the Thousand Oaks Acorn concerning the former Kmart property, I ponder the dilemma in Conejo Valley concerning the lack of recreational opportunities for families, such as miniature golf courses, bowling alleys, skating rings, BMX tracks, etc.

There is a solution.

Family oriented commercial developments need to be constructed by local wealthy entrepreneurs or civicminded investors who are willing to provide for the wellbeing of our community's youth. They will be hugefinancial undertakings, but to give new life to vacant commercial real estate and benefit the youth of Conejo Valley would be an act of benevolence to our citizens and eventually profitable.

We're fortunate to live where we have unlimited access to hiking, mountain bicycling and equestrian trails, along with other nature-oriented family activities.

Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) provides a myriad of recreational youth and family opportunities and many youth-oriented sports such as AYSO, CYBA and Little League.

Our community has excellent libraries and cultural venues.

Why are we missing almost every commercial recreational opportunity targeted at children? Why are these opportunities available in Simi Valley, Camarillo, Ventura and the San Fernando Valley but not in Conejo Valley? It's deplorable when the commercial recreational opportunities in a city with a population that exceeds 100,000 are limited to dining out, attending movies and shopping, with the exception of one roller skating rink and a rock-climbing gym.

Perhaps this is the reason that my teenaged daughters want to "hang out" at the mall. Where are the developers who built up Lang Ranch, Dos Vientos, Lake Sherwood or the smaller planned urban housing developments?

Have they taken their profits and left town, rather than reinvesting in family friendly recreational commercial developments that will benefit the families they brought to Conejo Valley?

How about the many affluent millionaires who have settled in our community: Can they help? It may be too late for the former Kmart property; however, there are other vacant commercial properties that can be converted to a bowling alley, miniature golf course, ice-skating rink or other youth-oriented business.

Build it, and we will come. Bonnie Bylin Thousand Oaks