Friends of Lost Lake oppose Closure of Lost Lake Park

On January 27th, 2009, the Board of Supervisors will be reviewing the mid-year fiscal status of the County which will include looking at all County parks and reviewing the potential to close the parks. This will no doubt address the potential closure of Lost Lake Park as has been alluded to in recent Board meetings concerning the Lost Lake Master Plan process, a planning process funded by the San Joaquin River Conservancy. The Friends of Lost Lake is a group formed to rekindle an appreciation for Lost Lake County Park. Friends of Lost Lake gave oral testimony at a recent Board hearing in response to a Board proposal to discontinue the Master Plan process and sell the park to the Table Mountain Rancheria for development of a regional sports complex, including 17 soccer fields, 6 baseball diamonds, a golf course, a dirt bike track, major music events, and other high intensity uses. This proposal has now been incorporated for review under the Master Plan Process, but stands in stark contradiction to the Master Plan Preferred Plan which focuses on river-compatible recreational opportunities and day-use facility renovations. This current situation is sparking much community interest in the fate of one of our most visited County Parks, and the most significant public access point on the San Joaquin River. Attempts to derail the public process are increasing, and Supervisor Henry Perea has voted to abandon the planning process entirely. Please attend the next Board meeting and voice your opinions if you care about the fate of the San Joaquin River and Lost Lake Park. For more info contact Brandon Hill at Fresno Audubon Society bhill968@gmail.com