Woody has responded....thanks to everyone who wrote him (scroll down rebuttal below his letter)
Hi Mary:
Thank you for your message. We were invited to the event by California
State Parks and Recreation Equestrian Coalition. It is not uncommon for us
to attend a friend-raising or fund-raising event hosted by non-profit
organizations where there is alignment in our mission to protect the
natural and cultural resources of the mountains while providing for
appropriate visitor enjoyment and access to the same. Chief Ranger Evan
Jones shared a brief statement at the event, which I reviewed prior to the
presentation. The statement simply expressed the importance of preserving
traditions of equestrian recreation in the mountains and providing for
appropriate access.
There has been a lot of incomplete information circulating on the
campground proposal. I strongly encourage you to speak with California
State Parks about the design and environmental screening process that will
take place to ensure an appropriate facility is properly located and
developed. [contact: Ron Schafer, District Superintendent
and the historic landscape will be considered and protected through a public planning process.
I very much appreciate your interest and desire to protect this important
scenic and historical area. While I don't have management jurisdiction,
I'm very confident that California State Parks will properly design a
facility that protects these values while providing appropriate access for
equestrian recreation.
Let me know if you'd like to discuss this matter further.
Woody Smeck, Superintendent
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
401 West Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, California 91360-4207
Ph (805) 370-2344
www.nps.gov/samo
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The Superintendent has suggested that "There has been a lot of incomplete information circulating on the campground proposal."
We respectfully disagree. This website and
blog provided by the Save the Reagan Meadow Foundation is
the most complete source of information on the Reagan Equestrian Campground. Most, if not all sources are cited.
Contact us if you would like source information or more information on
any topic.
Official information (found else where on the website or blog) summarized below the picture:
This image is what the California State Park service suggests the
Reagan Equestrian Campground will look like.
(except multiply by 30, reduce the number of trees, and add 31 fire pits)
The official page of the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Campground
This is why you should support the Reagan Equestrian Campground:
Malibu Creek State Park General Plan which included the Reagan Campground Plan was "released for public comment just before the holidays and only available on CD" in 2003 Most locals in the area were unaware. One lone voice, Emaline Rich, from the Sierra Club spoke out in opposition to the Reagan Equestrian Campground.
Guidestar.org is a well known and respected organization that provides public information available on various charities. Here is a quote from Guidestar "An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot long survive, but the types of assets and liabilities also must be considered." We encourage nonprofits to share information about their organizations openly and completely.
Click here for the most recent data available for Recreation Equestrian Coalition, the charity that Superintendent Smeck mentions at the top of this page. (Link is slow but it will load)
Ruth Gerson is president of Recreation Equestrian Coalition. On Octocber 1, 2009 she announced on
the cover of the Acorn (a local newpaper) that Equestrian Trails Inc had raised 3 million dollars to construct and build the Reagan Equestrian Campground. That announcement has been retracted.
Click here to see most recent available data on Equestrian Trails Inc from Guidestar.
Be patient, Guidestar links load slowly but they do load.