Save Elings Park South - The Mesa, Santa Barbara, California

Dear Activists and Supporters of Save Elings Park:

As you probably know by now, we have succeeded in stopping the development of Elings Park South for the foreseeable future! This article in the Daily Sound summarizes the recent news:   

http://www.thedailysound.com/results/0910110-SANTA-BARBARA-ELINGS-PARK

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, COMMITMENT, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP MAKE OUR MOVEMENT A SUCCESS!

Elings Park South Update

Although Elings Park Foundation's (EPF) plans have changed for now, they still have the ability to "pave the way" for development of Elings Park South. We must scrutinize their revised development proposal, which will soon be presented to the Planning Commission.  We must be sure to watch for any requests for a Zoning Change of EP South from its current zoning as Undeveloped Parkland. We must also watch for any requests by EPF to the Board of Supervisors to amend or extinguish the existing Santa Barbara County Covenant Restricting Use. Success by EPF in either (or both) of these areas will give them the legal right to develop EP South, and it will make our job to preserve the park very difficult, if not impossible.

Elings Park North Update

Please remember that this development plan also greatly affects the current size and scope of operations on Elings Park North (EP North). EPF is still pushing forward with their plan to develop EP North. Elings Park Foundation declared in late August to the publisher of the Mesa Paper that  "The Park is revising the Phase III proposal, in part, as a direct response to the suggestions and comments we received from SEPS (Save Elings Park Supporters)." If that is true, then they will accept responsibility for the excessive noise levels which have plagued the neighborhoods directly adjacent to EP North.  They will agree to standard decibel level limits, and will agree to an objective system which monitors noise levels.  They will also present a revised project which mitigates the increased impacts of their project on traffic, parking, lighting, and all the other issues outlined in the Draft EIR.  We must continue to monitor their revised plan for EP North, to ensure that they will implement the suggestions and comments offered by SEPS.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR STANDING BEHIND OUR MOVEMENT, AND FOR PROVING THAT COMMITTED PEOPLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

Why the campaign to Save Elings Park?

At present, the unspoiled beauty of Elings Park South, where one still enjoys starlit night skies, is the largest natural area under protection of the City and County of Santa Barbara.


Elings Park Foundation, however, has a huge development plan for this park area:

  • a 55,000 sq. ft. BMX track with starting gates covering 1.57 acres
    of currently natural land;

  • four 8-feet tall spectator bleachers, amplified PA system, and lights
    for night racing events;

  • 1,350 sq. ft. park office building (16-feet high);

  • Individual picnic areas;

  • Frisbee golf course area; and

  • Re-zoning from “undeveloped parkland” to “regional park”

Concerned citizens are opposed to the following:

The proposed construction violates the S. B. County “Covenant Restricting Use” agreed to by the Park Foundation in 1999. Elings has already violated the Covenant.

The project requires a zoning change from Undeveloped Parkland to Regional Park.

The proposed BMX track night time operations will cause light pollution.

The proposed amplified PA system at the BMX track will cause noise pollution.

Increased use in Elings South will necessarily increase traffic in the area.

A negative impact on its wildlife.


Concerned citizens are in support of:

  • The construction of individual picnic areas;
    Individual picnic areas without outdoor lighting offer a nice place for families to enjoy the natural surroundings of Elings Park South;

  • The construction of a frisbee golf course;
    Without outdoor lighting, a frisbee golf course is an excellent use of the natural land of Elings Park South.

Click here to see our legal analysis of the Elings Park Phase III developments »