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

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 »