Open space should stay serene, kept for passive use

I read with great interest the Acorn article about the Tierra Rejada Valley greenbelt that's between Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Simi Valley. A meeting was held between the 15 city council members to discuss land uses in this greenbelt.

Moorpark City Councilmember Roseann Mikos said, "Night lighting is about the worst thing you can have in a wildlife corridor, which is what that area is." T.O. City Councilmember Dennis Gillette added that the lighting from the driving range in the wildlife corridor "is offensive to the concept of open space."

That discussion could just as easily been about the Rancho Potrero park.

These 326 acres are part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Rancho Potrero is also part of the major wildlife corridor and a key mountain lion habitat.

There is overwhelming community opposition to the Rancho Potrero conceptual plan due, in part, to renting out the nicest part of the park for large and noisy private events.

That plan would allow hundreds of cars and people to have various events in the middle of this open space.

The plan was created in 2005, yet the city and Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) have still not indicated if these events would be allowed to occur late into the night or if amplified sound systems would be allowed, which also affects wildlife corridors.

Gillette voted for the 2005 conceptual plan. Given he finds lighting offensive to the concept of open space, did he ask if these events would occur at night?

Will he ask that now?

Alternative plans for Rancho Potrero will be presented at a Dec. 5 meeting. Hopefully a new plan will emerge that makes Rancho Potrero Park similar to Wildwood Park, which is what most people want: trailhead parking only, nice trails and several picnic areas with a few tables each.

And hopefully it will be clear that lights, cars and amplified sound won't be allowed in this rural area. Richard Ackerman Newbury Park