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Who We Are and Where
We Stand
Friends
of Allan Witt Park is
a group of Fairfield
residents concerned about preserving and
enhancing the beautiful open space and recreational opportunities in Allan
Witt Park for
residents and park visitors.
It is our goal
to ensure
that the public has access to
information about plans for the park, and avenues for providing input
on
project elements, and into the decision-making process of this
development
proposal.
A.
The need for this group:
- The
ad
hoc Allan Witt
Park Project Working Committee (also called the Citizens' Advisory
Committee) has not provided a forum for in-depth
discussion of pros and cons, definition of goals and objectives,
suggestion, consideration or analysis of alternatives, or any
substantial advisory, decision-making or oversight role in the project.
In addition, the ad hoc committee was dissolved by the city
after completion of an addendum to the EIR scoping document in
February 2005. There are no plans to reconvene the Advisory Committee,
effectively shutting off this avenue for community input on the
proposal.
- There is
a need to
explore alternative means for providing new recreational facilities for
Fairfield
and revitalizing West Texas Street,
and to suggest ways to
achieve project goals without selling public park land.
- There is
a need to make
the city and the city council aware of the problems, concerns and
reasons against pursuing the project to balance project staff's
pro-development focus.
- There is
a need to expand
the outreach effort, to educate those who will be adversely affected by
this project, and to collect all concerns so that all interests are
represented and considered by the city.
- There is
a need to
promote Allan Witt Park
and gather input
reflecting the community's wishes and recreational needs in order to be
able to transform the park into an
exceptional and popular public destination.
B.
Where we stand on the proposal:
- We
believe there is a
vital need for open accessible public parks in Fairfield,
and that the
need grows as population and density increase.
- We
oppose selling any
public park land and we oppose building private residential or
commercial
units in Allan Witt Park.
- We
support making Allan
Witt Park an excellent public
space and popular destination for both residents and out-of-town
visitors.
- We
oppose removing trees or reducing green open space in Allan
Witt Park
- We
support new
recreational facilities to benefit Fairfield,
including development
of a world-class sports complex, but not by selling any of Allan
Witt Park
- We
support improvement
and revitalization of West Texas Street,
but not by building private housing and stores in Allan
Witt Park
- We do
not oppose
development of the former water treatment plant ("Ray Venning") site or
the Caltrans
yard property
- We
oppose destroying and
removing functional park elements such as the skate park, tennis
courts, basketball courts, parking stalls, the sports center, and the
swim complex
- We
support smart growth
and infill development, but not in Allan Witt or any other public park
C. Contacts and Information:
Brad Smith (425-7527),
Wendy Ginther
(425-9340), Jorge Martin (631-5524)
Website: http://www.allanwittpark.org
Email
the Webmaster
Other
contacts - City Staff, City Council
Also visit the Resources
page
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