First published in the April 21 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
I moved and raised my children in La Cañada because the city is so special. It is a quaint, charming and beautiful community where streets are lined with beautiful mature trees. Residents of La Cañada find the community to be a retreat away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.
When my children graduated from Palm Crest Elementary, the many trees made the school very comforting. Palm Crest is a neighborhood school that maintains academic excellence and upholds values including honoring nature. Beautiful palm trees, the namesake of the school and Palm Drive, along with many other 50- to 100-year-old trees create a beautiful environment.
On March 29, at the board meeting, we learned that about 50-90 trees will be removed and will be replaced with concrete and retaining walls. This should not be accepted. The school board claims they will be planting 45-inch container trees and vines. They also claim that neighboring residents were notified via mail and in person by knocking on our doors.
I personally knocked on more than 200 doors, every resident I spoke with was in utter shock and astonished that anyone would consider such a terror to nature. When we asked “why?” we were told “for safety of children.” I have lived near Palm Crest for more than 40 years. It is an incredibly safe school. Adding a parking lot will not make the children safer. The current parking lot has provided very safe drop off and pick up since the 1980s.
Perhaps the city can consider a bus system instead.
We must do our part to preserve nature and our neighborhood. Please do not cut down the trees that make our community special, please honor nature, please maintain our neighborhood.
Mary Minissian
La Cañada Flintridge
