Comments for Griffith Park, Interrupted http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog Griffith Park and Silver Lake, Fire and Water. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:20:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on The LA Times feels sorry for the Avenues gang. by ESE DOPES 57 AVES http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2008/06/27/the-la-times-feels-sorry-for-the-avenues-gang/comment-page-1/#comment-15296 ESE DOPES 57 AVES Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:20:20 +0000 http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2008/06/27/the-la-times-feels-sorry-for-the-avenues-gang/#comment-15296 HATERS MAKE US EVEN MORE FAMOUS........CALAVERAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HATERS MAKE US EVEN MORE FAMOUS……..CALAVERAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> Comment on They call me Nancy Drew, sometimes. by Roxy http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2008/06/13/they-call-me-nancy-drew-sometimes/comment-page-1/#comment-15202 Roxy Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:00:27 +0000 http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2008/06/13/they-call-me-nancy-drew-sometimes/#comment-15202 i had the same tracks at my house behind my garden (my dad just took the fence down, so now we have like 50 different animal tracks in there). So, one morning i went to let my dog out and outside just reeked of skunk. We also have another garden in our backyard-still with the fence up- and we dump compost and stuff there so as i was walking back i noticed the footprints all the way from the back of our front garden to the edge of the woods (well as far as i could see them... we have coyotes here too so i don't go back there much.). But anyway, your pictures and message was pretty helpful, so thanks =] i had the same tracks at my house behind my garden (my dad just took the fence down, so now we have like 50 different animal tracks in there). So, one morning i went to let my dog out and outside just reeked of skunk. We also have another garden in our backyard-still with the fence up- and we dump compost and stuff there so as i was walking back i noticed the footprints all the way from the back of our front garden to the edge of the woods (well as far as i could see them… we have coyotes here too so i don’t go back there much.). But anyway, your pictures and message was pretty helpful, so thanks =]

]]> Comment on Mountain bikers at your picnic? You decide. by Cristalle http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2009/11/05/mountain-bikers-at-your-picnic-you-decide/comment-page-1/#comment-15117 Cristalle Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:04:03 +0000 http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/?p=586#comment-15117 Please see 4th paragraph below pertaining to mountains bikes: September 9, 2005 VIA FACSIMILE TO Clare Darden, Griffith Trust Member Open Letter to the Department of Recreation and Parks As the great-grandson of Col . Griffith I am writing to express my disappointment with the 2004 Griffith Park Master Plan. It seems the Melendrez Group wants to turn the park into an amusement park and/or major national tourist attraction, neither of which is what it was intended to be. It was intended to be a natural habitat where the people of Los Angeles could get away from the daily stresses of city life and relax in an uncluttered atmosphere. The numerous references to Central Park in New York are completely inappropriate. Central Park is a large mostly flat area in the middle of a major metropolitan city. Griffith Park is a rural mountainous mecca where people can commune with nature, hike, ride, or picnic their problems away. It does not need any more attraction than that. I have read the digest of public feedback made to the city by the people of Los Angeles. 95% of these comments seem to be negative to this plan. I urge you to listen to these people, as they are the ones my great-grandfather intended to benefit from the use of the park, and perhaps get their input on restructuring a new master plan. I know many of them care deeply about the park and would be happy to serve on committees and attend community meetings to rectify this situation. I am not in favor of, nor do I think my great-grandfather would be , of aerial trams, restaurants, lodging, kiosks, parking structures or commercial signage, all of which are not conducive to the natural environment of the park. I am in favor of, speed bumps to deter drive thru usage, one designated mountain bike trail (to be maintained by those who use it), improvements to existing trails and roads, and perhaps some soccer fields for our youths would be appropriate as it is a park. Finally, all these grandiose plans seem to be pointing toward entry, parking, and usage fees. May I remind you that in the deed to the city it stipulates that Griffith Park is to be a free park for the enjoyment of the people of Los Angeles. Any type of imposed fees would be a violation of the deed and will be vigorously contested by the Griffith family. Sincerely, (signature) Van Griffith Here is the link to the site: http://www.gmrnet.com/MasterPlan.html By the way AL no one is keeping you and your bike out of the park, just off the bridle paths! There are plenty of other places for you to ride! Land for equestrain use here in Metro LA is very limited and is continuing to diminish - Look at all the trails mountain bikers have access to: http://www.labikepaths.com/ I would also like to know how horse "poo" is getting on your bike if you are staying off trails restricted to you? And if it bothers you soooo much why are you riding through it? There are no areas where any type of feces blankets massive ares of trail or road in the park to the point where you cannot avoid it. Get real! Please see 4th paragraph below pertaining to mountains bikes:

September 9, 2005

VIA FACSIMILE TO Clare Darden, Griffith Trust Member

Open Letter to the Department of Recreation and Parks

As the great-grandson of Col . Griffith I am writing to express my disappointment with the 2004 Griffith Park Master Plan. It seems the Melendrez Group wants to turn the park into an amusement park and/or major national tourist attraction, neither of which is what it was intended to be. It was intended to be a natural habitat where the people of Los Angeles could get away from the daily stresses of city life and relax in an uncluttered atmosphere. The numerous references to Central Park in New York are completely inappropriate. Central Park is a large mostly flat area in the middle of a major metropolitan city. Griffith Park is a rural mountainous mecca where people can commune with nature, hike, ride, or picnic their problems away. It does not need any more attraction than that.

I have read the digest of public feedback made to the city by the people of Los Angeles. 95% of these comments seem to be negative to this plan. I urge you to listen to these people, as they are the ones my great-grandfather intended to benefit from the use of the park, and perhaps get their input on restructuring a new master plan. I know many of them care deeply about the park and would be happy to serve on committees and attend community meetings to rectify this situation.

I am not in favor of, nor do I think my great-grandfather would be , of aerial trams, restaurants, lodging, kiosks, parking structures or commercial signage, all of which are not conducive to the natural environment of the park.

I am in favor of, speed bumps to deter drive thru usage, one designated mountain bike trail (to be maintained by those who use it), improvements to existing trails and roads, and perhaps some soccer fields for our youths would be appropriate as it is a park.

Finally, all these grandiose plans seem to be pointing toward entry, parking, and usage fees. May I remind you that in the deed to the city it stipulates that Griffith Park is to be a free park for the enjoyment of the people of Los Angeles. Any type of imposed fees would be a violation of the deed and will be vigorously contested by the Griffith family.

Sincerely,

(signature)

Van Griffith

Here is the link to the site:
http://www.gmrnet.com/MasterPlan.html

By the way AL no one is keeping you and your bike out of the park, just off the bridle paths! There are plenty of other places for you to ride!
Land for equestrain use here in Metro LA is very limited and is continuing to diminish – Look at all the trails mountain bikers have access to:
http://www.labikepaths.com/

I would also like to know how horse “poo” is getting on your bike if you are staying off trails restricted to you? And if it bothers you soooo much why are you riding through it? There are no areas where any type of feces blankets massive ares of trail or road in the park to the point where you cannot avoid it. Get real!

]]> Comment on Mountain bikers at your picnic? You decide. by Al http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2009/11/05/mountain-bikers-at-your-picnic-you-decide/comment-page-1/#comment-15007 Al Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:40:07 +0000 http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/?p=586#comment-15007 Donna, It seems like you just want the trails to yourself. That's very unfair! There SHOULD Be some sort of compromise! Hiking on these specific trails only? Biking on these specific trails only? Find a local mountain bike club and communicate with them! They will help you alot! The mountain bike clubs WILL help maintain what they ride also, I have yet to hear of any hikers assisting in trail building or maintenance to my knowledge. Horses and ATV's destroy trails worse than hikers and bikers do! Cristalle.....millions of $$ spent on PUBLIC land....just for who you want it for? seriously! We all own this land.....share. IDEA: have specific days that the park is for use! rotate a schedule for hikers, equestrian and cyclists. M,W,F,Sun - hikers and horses. Tu,Th,Sat cyclists and rotate it each week. There are easy solutions to this problem if EVERYONE will do a little compromising! PS: I dont like riding on trails where Horse/Dog pooooo gets slung up on me from my wheels. Cyclists do not defecate on the trails like horses and dogs. AL Donna, It seems like you just want the trails to yourself. That’s very unfair! There SHOULD Be some sort of compromise! Hiking on these specific trails only? Biking on these specific trails only? Find a local mountain bike club and communicate with them! They will help you alot! The mountain bike clubs WILL help maintain what they ride also, I have yet to hear of any hikers assisting in trail building or maintenance to my knowledge.

Horses and ATV’s destroy trails worse than hikers and bikers do!

Cristalle…..millions of $$ spent on PUBLIC land….just for who you want it for? seriously! We all own this land…..share.

IDEA: have specific days that the park is for use! rotate a schedule for hikers, equestrian and cyclists. M,W,F,Sun – hikers and horses. Tu,Th,Sat cyclists and rotate it each week. There are easy solutions to this problem if EVERYONE will do a little compromising!

PS: I dont like riding on trails where Horse/Dog pooooo gets slung up on me from my wheels. Cyclists do not defecate on the trails like horses and dogs.

AL

]]> Comment on Why do they kill horses with a broken leg? by emma http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2008/05/28/why-do-they-kill-a-horse-with-a-broken-leg/comment-page-1/#comment-14993 emma Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:07:29 +0000 http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2008/05/28/what-i-would-have-written-in-the-times-about-eight-belles/#comment-14993 and wow amanda i couldnt of sayd it any better! who says less is more?! tell it how it is! and wow amanda i couldnt of sayd it any better! who says less is more?! tell it how it is!

]]> Comment on Why do they kill horses with a broken leg? by emma http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2008/05/28/why-do-they-kill-a-horse-with-a-broken-leg/comment-page-1/#comment-14992 emma Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:04:30 +0000 http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2008/05/28/what-i-would-have-written-in-the-times-about-eight-belles/#comment-14992 and for sarah wayyy at the top: gambling is a sin, sins r forgiven. only bad trainers r inhmane to their racehorses..... 40% of race trainers have never used illegal drugs or practise of any sort on thier or anyone elses horses. i have riding around 14 racehorse in my 13 years..... and 4 of them had bad trainers. but the other 10 were loved and pampered, not mistreated or hurt.......the most pain theyv gone through is a bite or kick from an ornery horse in a paddock, or MBYE thrush....half the ppl commentdnt knw wat tht is tho. ITS NT THE KIND PPL GET, K? email me w ur opinions or questions...ik alot bout the situation: ermajean2445@hotmail.com and for sarah wayyy at the top: gambling is a sin, sins r forgiven. only bad trainers r inhmane to their racehorses….. 40% of race trainers have never used illegal drugs or practise of any sort on thier or anyone elses horses. i have riding around 14 racehorse in my 13 years….. and 4 of them had bad trainers. but the other 10 were loved and pampered, not mistreated or hurt…….the most pain theyv gone through is a bite or kick from an ornery horse in a paddock, or MBYE thrush….half the ppl commentdnt knw wat tht is tho. ITS NT THE KIND PPL GET, K? email me w ur opinions or questions…ik alot bout the situation: ermajean2445@hotmail.com

]]> Comment on Why do they kill horses with a broken leg? by emma http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2008/05/28/why-do-they-kill-a-horse-with-a-broken-leg/comment-page-1/#comment-14991 emma Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:59:32 +0000 http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2008/05/28/what-i-would-have-written-in-the-times-about-eight-belles/#comment-14991 ok, the horse -pony- is not too small to carry sumthng tht size. the bear probly wieghs..... wat? 200 ponds? MAYBE 250.....tht pony weighs about 750-850....a horse tht size can hold about 850-1000 depending on their weight..... and can pull up to twice their body weight,..,.so the size fo the bear is not important. this is a 100% inhumane worng peicee of shyt tht dumb ppl do who have no lives and will go to hell. the bear looks TERRIFIED and the horse looks twice tht bad. this is wrong. it makes me want to but mad bears on these ppl's backs. -emma a 7th grader in w.i. who loves horse and has been riding since 3 y.o., and training professionally since age 9. thnx plz dnt hate, ? ok, the horse -pony- is not too small to carry sumthng tht size. the bear probly wieghs….. wat? 200 ponds? MAYBE 250…..tht pony weighs about 750-850….a horse tht size can hold about 850-1000 depending on their weight….. and can pull up to twice their body weight,..,.so the size fo the bear is not important. this is a 100% inhumane worng peicee of shyt tht dumb ppl do who have no lives and will go to hell. the bear looks TERRIFIED and the horse looks twice tht bad. this is wrong. it makes me want to but mad bears on these ppl’s backs. -emma a 7th grader in w.i. who loves horse and has been riding since 3 y.o., and training professionally since age 9. thnx plz dnt hate, ?

]]> Comment on Mountain bikers at your picnic? You decide. by Cristalle http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/2009/11/05/mountain-bikers-at-your-picnic-you-decide/comment-page-1/#comment-14885 Cristalle Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:49:57 +0000 http://donnabarstow.com/park_blog/?p=586#comment-14885 The trails in Griffith Park were always intended to be BRIDLE PATHS, NOT MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS. It is not just an issue of damage - it is also an issue of use and Mr. Griffith NEVER intended the park to be used as bike paths and bicylists were not included from the start for a reason! Horses and fast moving bikes do not mix! The problem bikers don't seem to want to understand is that horses are prey animals and do not like anything ZOOMING up behind them. I can only imagine the number of injuries and deaths that would occur mixing the two in large numbers. I live near and walk in Fryman Canyon which does allow mountain bikers and even as a pedestrian bikes come whizzing up behind you. And when path space is limited you the hiker have to move out of their way because they are moving quickly- There used to be a few local people who would ride horses in Fryman but sadly they are all gone now that the masses and the bikers have invaded. I am a third generation native Los Angelean and I am so sick of people who try to change what has made areas like this special. These places do not stay special when you let everyone come in to and do whatever they want just because they feel a sense of entitlement. The park was designed for horses and hikers and needs to stay that way FOREVER - The trails in Griffith Park were always intended to be BRIDLE PATHS, NOT MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS. It is not just an issue of damage – it is also an issue of use and Mr. Griffith NEVER intended the park to be used as bike paths and bicylists were not included from the start for a reason!
Horses and fast moving bikes do not mix!
The problem bikers don’t seem to want to understand is that horses are prey animals and do not like anything ZOOMING up behind them. I can only imagine the number of injuries and deaths that would occur mixing the two in large numbers.

I live near and walk in Fryman Canyon which does allow mountain bikers and even as a pedestrian bikes come whizzing up behind you. And when path space is limited you the hiker have to move out of their way because they are moving quickly- There used to be a few local people who would ride horses in Fryman but sadly they are all gone now that the masses and the bikers have invaded.

I am a third generation native Los Angelean and I am so sick of people who try to change what has made areas like this special.
These places do not stay special when you let everyone come in to and do whatever they want just because they feel a sense of entitlement.

The park was designed for horses and hikers and needs to stay that way FOREVER -

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