As a neighbor of the Wildwood Neighborhood Park, I wanted to expand on one issue that you may not be aware of regarding your Jan. 29 front-page boxed photo and later story:

Six months ago or so, Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) removed some benches and a set of stairs from the same area where they're planning to build picnic tables because teenagers were using the location for underage sex and illegal drug use.

I had a pleasant conversation with CRPD yesterday, and it appears they see a slab of concrete and park benches as the replacement plan for the "fort" as a great plan. They didn't discuss it with the homeowners that surround the park. They agree that this will once again provide a hangout for disruptive activity, including drug use, underage sex and all that goes along with it, but will deal with it later.

I'll be attending the CRPD hearing and will try to appeal to their logic. In the meantime, I'll be taking measures to organize my community around this issue.

Would we be better served with an open landscaping plan that blends naturally with the surroundings or a slab of concrete and benches?

Why not give the area a natural look with an open landscaping plan that blends naturally with the surroundings.

It's our tax dollars, and the homeowners weren't included in the planning procedure.

The park exists to raise the property value of our neighborhood. Even more importantly, what about the safety of our children?

Isn't this new construction a promise to turn our backs on unsafe activities like drug abuse and public sex, given that we already know that's what it will be used for? Steven Goldstein Thousand Oaks