THE BIRDS in the old Civic Center Park are gone now (OC Tribune photo).
The axiom, “You can’t please everyone” is one of great timeless truths of all eras. But you won’t have a chance at being pleased if you don’t let others know what you want.
At a recent Garden Grove City Council meeting a citizen got up to speak, expressing reservations about the Civic Center Revitalization Project that will build a new police facility, an attached parking structure and a “new park” to replace the Civic Center Park, well-known for its ponds and ducks.
This citizen made some valid points except for one thing: it’s already under way. Construction has started. The ducks have been driven off, except for a few relentless feathered optimists hanging around on the margins.
(Selfish plug: Not only is The Orange County Tribune the best source of local news – in both a daily website and a twice-weekly e-newspaper – but it’s free!)
Second point is that it’s not too late to influence the final step in the process: the “new” park to be built nearby. Preliminary drawings are .. well … underwhelming. Three members of the city council have already spoken in favor of adding a water element and – frankly – I have yet to hear a comment about the park plans from the general public that carried much enthusiasm.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not asking for a design by committee. That would a disaster. But “first drafts” almost always improve with revision, in books as well as architecture. And ideas about those revisions can come from you.
If you have suggestions – polite ones, mind you – contact your city council members at https://ggcity.org/city-council . Click on your council member (or mayor’s) picture and it directs you to the e-mail for each of them.
I can’t guarantee that this will bring back the ducks or get us an Eiffel Tower, but at least you can say, “I did my part.”