Park challenges Columbia Park, Torrance, California

1 park challenges

1.1 sail-skating
1.2 gophers
1.3 safety concerns

1.3.1 people
1.3.2 floods
1.3.3 play equipment


1.4 dogs

park challenges
sail-skating

the long, winding cement walk pathways , vacant parking lots of columbia park became popular place skate sailing in mid-1980s. in summer of 1985, sail skater clocked police radar gun doing 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) inside park. near end of 1985, torrance city council had enough , unanimously approved ordinance made illegal ride wheeled conveyance equipped sails on city streets, in parks or on other public property.

gophers

the grassy expanse of newly developed columbia park turned out ideal habitat gophers , attracted , maintained gopher population of more 600 animals. gopher holes made impossible use fields play sports. gopher population large exceptionally sized hawk perch on top of knx antenna , repeatedly swoop down, snatch gopher, , fly top of antenna consume. other animals survived on gophers.

in 1987, city assigned hank g-man baranowski park address gopher problem. @ time, baranowski known g-man due ability wipe out gopher populations , reputation city s premier gopher grabber. within few months, baranowski had eliminated gopher population in columbia park. gopher problem resolved, recreation fields @ columbia park began receive regular use.

safety concerns
people

in may 1993, fight broke out among members of 2 gangs in columbia park. 1 of gang members fired gun hit bystander. however, necklace worn woman stopped bullet penetrating chest. result of shooting, neighborhood association s lobbying city park improvements, , homeowner complaints non-residents using basketball court , causing trouble. torrance officials sought improve security , took unusual step of closing park s basketball court removing basketball rims , padlocking entry court.

floods

plans created in 2001 realign portions of columbia park jogging path in lower areas or overlapped sprinklers, prevent flooded , slippery paths. city added decomposed granite part of fixing problem, draining water off new raised sections.

play equipment

in 2003, firetruck used play equipment @ columbia park determined not meet federal safety guidelines preventing head , hand entrapment, , protecting children falling off vehicle. in response concerns children playing on firetruck fenced off. 3 years later in january 2006 both firetruck , fencing removed, plans replacement neat, fun, , attractive play equipment rubberized matting.

dogs

in 2006 torrance considered possible sites, @ both city s columbia park , wilson park, fenced-in dog parks, 2 leash-free roaming sections separating large dogs small dogs. in 2007, city s open space committee met discuss feasibility of adding city dog parks. later in 2007 committee had determined area large enough accommodate divided area both large , small dogs southern california edison easement @ columbia park. plan required southern california edison needed approve proposal, , start-up costs of @ least $50,000.

in presenting proposal torrance city council 1 month later, open space committee stated:

dog park in torrance not essential element of our park system due lack of unused open space , absence of grassroots community group supporting type of park.

at same meeting, dog obedience club of torrance asserted torrance dog park bring potential liability city through dog fights, dog caused injuries, , spread of diseases , money better spent on city s animal shelters. voice vote, city council agreed dog park not essential element of torrance s city park system.