I want to thank the Costa Mesa City Council for realizing the importance of open space in such an urban city at the November 6th meeting. Before WWII when most of our city was open space, urban parks made sense and creating an open space park would have been absurd. Now it's just the opposite. Just as we wouldn't want a football stadium in Yosemite, we don't want to see skate parks, soccer parks, or parking lots in Costa Mesa's only passive nature park when there are plenty of other alternatives. CM already has plenty of urban parks that are better suited for adding urban activity to. Last I checked there are more than 30 urban style city parks in total. That's not including elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and colleges that have tracks, fields, and stadiums. There is also the OC Fairgrounds, Fairview Developmental Center and National Guard property..
I am actually a fan of the current skate park and even though Costa Mesa has one more public skate park than most American cities out there and it might not make sense to build another one... I am ok with building one more in an already urban area when appropriate. The Downtown Recreation Center is a good example. This has the added benefit of kids being able to skate as well as use the library, swimming pool, and other amenities such as taking a summer art or gymnastics or skateboarding class etc. Parents or relatives will be able to drop their kids off in one location while they are surrounded by many healthy choices and activities. As the city becomes more bike friendly, even more kids will be able to go directly to the Downtown Recreation Center on their bikes. This will also help to re-vitalize this area that has the potential for being something great 365 days of the year.
However, when it comes to Fairview Park, I am thoroughly against the idea of urbanizing, electrifying, commercializing, and ruining the quiet peaceful nature of Costa Mesa's only passive nature park along with extincting or putting a further strain on Costa Mesa's wildlife (93 species of birds documented in and around the surrounding area including Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers, Great-horned Owls, Burrowing Owls, and Turkey Vultures that really like FV Park) and ecosystem that the two year drought hasn't.
Fairview Park is Costa Mesa's Jewel because not a lot of people go there (the whole point of a passive nature park). If I wanted to feel concrete or asphalt under my feet, I'd walk around the block or hang out at the Home Depot parking lot. Fairview is a place where you can truly feel like you got away from it all. Drugs and alcohol aren't necessary for me in large part because of the peace that the park brings me. I know John Muir and I aren't the only ones who have gotten high just from breathing in the beauty of what God gave us even if it is just dirt and weeds to some people. I hope everyone in Costa Mesa has the ability to share this experience as well as many generations to come. Hopefully in the future we will be able to do a full restoration, but in the meantime, I'm happy with "dirt and weeds."