Don't Support the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Campground

(Photo of historic Reagan Meadow at right used with permission, click on image to enlarge)

Click Here to See Public Comments

We now have a website:

www.savethemeadow.com

New: click here for slide show of historic photos.

Update: Malibu Times prints our side of the story. Click here

Click here for recent fire photos.

SoCal Mountain Bikers Comment on the Reagan Meadow Join the forum here

Update: Sugar Daddy Gets Cold Feet. 3 million NOT raised at fund raiser. Acorn has changed it's online article. Read it HERE
or scroll to bottom of blog for excerpt.

Update: We love Zev, 3rd District Supervisor. Go to bottom for details.
(Zev does not support a specific location for the Reagan Equestrian Campground and RV Park)

Update: The Reagan Ranch to be considered for inclusion in the California Register of Historic Places. (See bottom of the blog for details)

Choosing the historic Reagan Meadow for the site of the new RV Park/Equestrian Campground in Malibu Creek State Park is an abomination. This facility with mar the view for miles along a state designated scenic drive: Mulholland Highway. The fire pits of this facility are a threat to public safety. This will likely be where the next Corral Canyon fire begins wiping out hundreds of homes. The concentration of animal waste at this site will lead to more fish kills in nearby historic Malibou Lake. Instead of subsidizing the life styles of a few well heeled special interest groups at a time when the parks can barely afford to remain open, I believe the state should consider restricting horses from some public trails to protect the Malibu Creek watershed. The location of this RV park contradicts the Park's own general plan by reducing the narrow wildlife corridor between Paramount Ranch and Malibu Creek State Park. This RV Park will destroy a historic site that will soon be placed on the National and California registries of historic places. The sale of this ranch was credited by Reagan himself for allowing him to run for office. (click for reference) Reagan himself supported the preservation of the Reagan Meadow. (click here for reference)

There are insufficient water resources to establish the shade trees depicted in this plan. The result will be a barren half paved field full of unsightly buildings, recreational vehicles, and dumpsters storing horse manure. Even if there are a few trees in a hundred years the scenic view will be ruined and the historic Reagan Meadow now enjoyed by all will be gone forever.

This facility is located within sight of the ridge line where the Corral Canyon fire started. It is immediately upwind of hundreds of homes in the densely treed historic community of Malibou Lake. The prevailing Santa Anna winds blowing from the fire pits at this facility pose a grave danger to hundreds of homes.

This facility is literally a few hundred yards uphill from Malibou Lake which feeds into Malibu Creek. Both these bodies of water already have water quality problems. We already dump enough bacteria on the beaches in Malibu to force closures. We should not encourage a large number of big animals to roam the hillsides defecating and urinating next to Malibu Creek.

Private R & R zoned properties are available for this land use. Express your opposition to this location by writing District Superintendent of the California State Parks Ron Schafer rscha@parks.ca.gov Email a copy of your opposition to Ruth Gerson at mailto:ruthgerson@aol.com (She is the primary backer and fund raiser for this proposal)

CONTACT US

Home Page Link For the Save the Reagan Meadow Foundation

The Ugly Reagan Campground Plan (click on either picture to enlarge)

The first picture is what the State Park service currently considers protecting the viewshed of scenic Mulholland Highway and maintaining a fire safe environment. The picture was taken from Mulholland Highway at the southern end of the Reagan Meadow. Can you see why we are concerned?

Click Here for the park's detailed plan. (Be patient, the link is a slow loading .pdf file) Note the picture at the end and you get the idea what the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Campground/RV Park will look like except subtract out the trees. There will be 30 to 75 RV/Campground spaces & 60 horse corrals. (The numbers keep changing but so far none of the numbers are small)

CONTACT US

(Home Page link for the Save the Reagan Meadow Foundation)

Stop the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Campground and RV Park

Malibu Creek State Park is planning to convert a scenic meadow in a protected corridor to an RV park/Equestrian Campground for a few well heeled special interest groups. Please help me stop them.

Tell your friends NOT to donate to the Reagan Equestrian Campground. Donate to save abandoned horses not to destroy the environment.

Last year the Los Angeles County shelter took in 188 abandoned horses. We support the Los Angeles County animal shelter and horse adoption.

Save the Reagan Meadow for everyone to use!

Painters, Runners, Hikers, Bicyclists, and Equestrians!

Why does the State Park Service restrict mountain bike use of trails while it promotes equestrian use? Equestrian use is more damaging to the environment. Click here to see a study of impacts by various groups on fragile trail systems. We support equal access to all trails by equestrians, mountain bikers, and hikers.

CONTACT US

(Home Page Link for the Save the Reagan Meadow Foundation)

Save this Wildlife Corridor (click on picture to enlarge)

There is a narrow wildlife corridor between Malibu Creek State Park and the Paramount Ranch that is the Reagan Meadow. The RV Park/Equestrian Campground will be built in the middle of it. Don't allow the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Campground/RV Park to force the deer to use Mulholland Highway to move between the two parks. This corridor is bounded by ridge lines on both sides. The natural migration of animals is through the historic Reagan Meadow. Click here to read why wild life corridors are important.

Click here for an aerial view.

This picture was taken at approximately the same location as the historic Reagan Meadow photo at the top of the blog. We used the ridgelines to line up the two pictures. State Park and County Officials promise the "new facility will be done right". However, note that the state park service has a large pile of dry stacked wood in a meadow of sage brush in the foreground. They aren't fire safe even now when nobody is in this meadow, can you imagine 70 campers and RVs? Mulholland highway is in the background towards the right. The number of campsites keeps changing, will update when it firms up.

Help Save this wildlife corridor by NOT contributing to the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Campground/RV Park.

Sierra Club Quote: "At last report P12 [mountain lion] was hanging around Malibu Creek State Park with no barriers to prevent him from roaming from Point Mugu to the 405 Freeway" (Unless of course, the state builds this unsightly facility.)

A quote from Woody Smeck Superintendent Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area:

Wildlife corridors are also a top priority for Smeck, who's been tracking a local family of mountain lions that has faced un- expected hardship in recent months.

"Connectivity is critical and we have made investments to acquire parkland to conserve habitat and nature for people to enjoy," Smeck said. The corridors, enabling genetic exchange, are crucial, he said. (reference: Moorpark Acorn Oct 20, 2006)

We are also strong supporters of the Campaign to Save Topanga State Park and the Temescal Pool .

CONTACT US


(Home Page Link for the Save the Reagan Meadow Foundation)

Save the Reagan Meadow seeks support from the following Organizations

I have contacted the following organizations to enlist their support of the historic Reagan Meadow. I urge other concerned citizens to do the same. Ronald Reagan himself supported preserving the Reagan Meadow when he became Honorary Major of Malibou Lake in 1953.
(click here fore reference)

A Quote From the cover of the Malibu Creek State Park General Plan:

"The primary purpose of Malibu Creek State Park is to protect and
perpetuate the oak woodland and riparian features of a ruggedly beautiful natural
landscape that has been set aside for the protection of its diverse natural
resources."

Los Angeles County Fire Department (unofficially supports The Reagan Meadow)
Corral Canyon Fire Safety Council
Coalition for Fire Safe Communities
Safe Canyons
Las Virgenes Home Owners Federation (Has taken No Position and will not until they vote)
Malibou Lake Mountain Club MLMC (just learned of proposal and takes no position at this time, Update: The MLMC has allowed their Banquet Hall Facilities to be used for a meeting with Ron Shafer, Superintendent LA County Parks. Date and Time to be announced.
Address is 29033 West Lake Vista Drive Agoura Ca 91301)

Santa Monica Bay Keepers ("RREC is on our radar")
Heal the Bay (Officially takes no position at this time, but giving the RREC further study)
Los Angeles County Regional Water Quality Control Board
Malibu Creek Watershed Council
Las Virgenes Water District
Triunfo Sanitation District(works to maintain good water quality in Malibu Creek watershed)

Save Open Space (nonprofit that seeks to preserve open space in the Santa Monica Mountains)
National Registry of Historic Places (working to preserve historic places)
Native Sons of the Golden West (preserving historic sites for over 150 years)
Mountains Restoration Trust (fighting to preserve the Santa Monica Mountains since 1981)
California Chaparral Institute (they conserve, protect and preserve shrubland ecosystems)
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter (supporter of open space and wildlife corridors)
Caltrans Scenic Highway Coordinator District 7
Leave No Trace (supports responsible access to park lands)
Friends of Temescal Pool
Scenic America

Opposed to the historic Reagan Meadow

Calamigos Ranch
ETI International



CONTACT US

(Home Page Link for the Save the Reagan Meadow)

Opponents of the Historic Reagan Meadow are Wrong

Supporters of the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Campground/RV Park like to say Reagan rode horses on his ranch so they should be able to "continue the land use" with a 60 horse Campground/RV Park. But adjacent to this site is Paramount Ranch National Park with many equestrian trails. However, before this land became a park it was a race track. The concrete of the track is still used today by joggers and equestrians alike. My question to supporters of the RREC is this: Should some special interest group like car racing enthusiasts be allowed to build a new bigger racetrack at the site of the historic race track in Paramount Ranch? Perhaps we have found common ground. Click here to see historic information on the race track at Paramount Ranch. Speaking of race tracks, we should not be building the Reagan Equestrian Campground in a location that will add to the traffic problems on Mulholland highway. Click here for the video. Build it near a major thruway.


CONTACT US


(Home Page Link for the Save the Reagan Meadow Foundation)

Ronald Reagan Supported preserving The Reagan Meadow (click on image and text to enlarge)

Naming this RV park and equestrian campground after Ronald Reagan doesn't change the fact that Ronald Reagan would not have supported this project. History says so.

Four state parks were the triumph of a grassroots movement to protect open spaces minutes from Los Angeles in the 1950s & 60s. Three women, Sue Nelson, Jill Swift, and Margo Feuer further galvanized the movement that helped make the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area a reality in 1978. Honor the memory of the late Sue Nelson, Jill Swift and Margo Feuer ,

Save the historic Reagan Meadow for Everyone to Enjoy!

Don't Support the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Campground and RV Park.

For the latest news in the Conejo Valley try the Conejo Post http://www.conejopost.com/

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Update: The Acorn online article has changed 3 Million NOT raised at fund raiser. It now says "Equestrian Trails Inc. Corral 63 partnered with the California Department of Parks and Recreation and aims to raise about $3 million for the facility’s construction.".

Click here for the current online version of the Acorn article.

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ZEV YAROSLAVSKY DOES NOT SUPPORT A SPECIFIC LOCATION FOR THE REAGAN EQUESTRIAN CAMPGROUND. (See email below sent to Nan Kane)

"Thanks for your e-mail regarding the Reagan ranch. While I have expressed support for the concept of horse camping, I have not endorsed any particular proposal since no proposal has been finalized. Any final plan will be the product of conversations with community and environmental stakeholders. In fact, the process is only beginning. I have asked State Parks to work with the communities of the area---residents and environmentalists---to insure that what is done is done with the concerns of ALL stakeholders in mind. My mind is completely open to comments and criticisms of the State proposal. I would recommend that you make your views known to Ron Schaefer of the State Department of Parks and Recreation. They are the lead on this project. "

Zev Yaroslavsky

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An open letter to Ron Shafer: Why is Gillette Ranch not a better location for the RREC?

Click here for the proposal.

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Update: The Reagan Ranch including the "Reagan Meadow" to be considered for listing on the California Register of Historic Resources. We are currently preparing the application for review by officials of the Office of Historic Preservation. The Reagan Ranch, now incorporated into Malibu Creek State Park, was known as Yearling Row . It was named and owned by Ronald and Nancy Reagan from 1951 to 1966. Reagan sold the ranch to pay off campaign debts after he won the 1966 race for Governor of California. He could not afford the taxes on the ranch. The ranch is historically significant in the context of the 1966 gubernatorial race. On the ranch, citizen Reagan developed a down to earth, cowboy persona used to great effect in his upset victory in the 1966 governor's race. This persona would eventually take him to the white house. Click here for interesting historical facts about the ranch.

Thanks to everyone who has sent us historical information about the ranch. (Special thanks to those who provided first hand oral histories.) If anyone else wishes to send information, please use the contact button below.

Click here for slide show of historic photographs.

Click here for actual video of the Reagan Ranch in 1966. The ranch appears 4 minutes into the video.

CONTACT US

(Homepage Link for the Save the Reagan Meadow Foundation)