Cuesta Annex is already a benefit Cuesta Annex is already a benefit (January 20, 2006)

By Robert Schick

As one of the thousands of Cuesta Park Annex lovers, I respectfully disagree with last week's guest opinion by Jim Cochran ("Cuesta Annex: Who benefits?").

Cochran's recent opinion resembles many previous ones in which he differs from the majority on citywide issues. For example, in a Voice letter on June 12, 1998, he said the historic Adobe Building restoration project lacked merit and support. In fact the larger community did support the project, and we now enjoy a beautifully restored adobe building which is rented out for special events and gatherings.

In a 1997 letter, Cochran said he wanted to install a gate behind the Gemello cul-de-sac mini park, despite parents' objections that this would compromise their children's safety. The community prevailed in having El Camino residents walk one block farther to enjoy a more secure park.

Now Cochran says he wants the Cuesta Annex sold for development, while the majority of Mountain View residents have been saying loud and clear since 1977 that they want this natural open space preserved.

I would like to correct some of Cochran's misrepresentations on the Cuesta Annex. For example:

* It is not a "vacant" lot. It is 12 acres of grassland, mature oaks, walnut trees and historic prune orchard trees, which change in appearance with the seasons. People come from as far as Manteca to walk in the annex and see the great blue herons, hawks, falcons and other wild animals that hunt and reside there.

* In 1973, the city of Mountain View signaled interest in acquiring the Cuesta Annex's back nine acres when it purchased the three acres along Cuesta Drive to block development next to school district land. The purchase price for the front three acres was initially less than $100,000. After it was sold to developers, the city bought it back in 1977 for $266,550.

* In 1979, the mayor and city council agreed to purchase the back nine acres of the annex from the school district for $1.12 million, not $5.1 million.

* The Cuesta Annex did not prevent the city from adding parkland in other parts of town in the 1990s. Just over 13 acres were acquired or improved from 1990-98. (Most of that land was north of El Camino Real, and more than seven miles of hiking trails were also added to the city north of El Camino.)

* Rengstorff Park and Cuesta Park were built to be used by all of Mountain View's residents. They are community parks, not neighborhood parks.

I am also happy to report that on a rainy Saturday morning of a recent three-day weekend, more than 100 Mountain View residents representing all sections of town attended a "Save Open Space, Mountain View" meeting at St. Timothy's parish hall, where nearly everyone expressed a desire to preserve Cuesta Annex's natural open space as the top priority of the master plan.

I hope all of you will come out to enjoy our city's Cuesta Annex and share the joy of beautiful grass fields and flowering trees, which will again bloom this February through April.
Robert Schick lives on Park Drive in Mountain View.

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