“Spending time around downtown Los Angeles in the 1990s, I quickly noticed the complete absence of parks: miles and miles of hot concrete. Nowhere for people to walk on the grass or for kids to get dirty playing ball. Because I grew up with parks, it seemed very unfair to me. What prevented parks in LA? Could I do something about it? Those questions kept bothering me.”
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Creating urban parks, cleaning up our beaches and ocean, preventing development in state parks
It may seem like a contradiction, but Californians have to work hard to keep their state’s wilderness, desert, seashores, and waterways in their natural state.
In 2001 Governor Gray Davis appointed Bobby Shriver to the State Park and Recreation Commission, which advises state policymakers on the best ways to use and protect state parkland. As elected commission chair Shriver helped create new urban parks such as Los Angeles State Historic Park (the former “Cornfield”) and Rio de Los Angeles State Park.
Shriver also worked to prevent development in established state parks. His fierce opposition to a six-lane toll road through San Onofre State Park was the most likely reason that in 2008 Governor Schwarzenegger, who favors the road, did not reappoint Shriver for another term. At least he was in good company: the vice-chairman, Clint Eastwood, was also terminated. Shriver, along with a host of environmental groups, continues fighting the toll road, which would also degrade the world-famous surf break at Trestles Beach.
Shriver worked with Heal the Bay to pass a $63.5 million parcel tax that will clean stormwater flowing into Santa Monica Bay. He is agitating City Hall to spend the money sooner rather than later; Santa Monica Bay has some of the unhealthiest water in the state. He has also voted to acquire land in Santa Monica for new urban parks.
