East Walker Ranch
Address/location: 16830 Placerita Canyon Road (view map). From the east, approximately 1/2 mile past the Placerita Nature Center. From the West- approximately 1/2 mile from Sand Canyon. Entrance is on the South side of the road.
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset.
MAYOR PRO TEM LAURENE WESTE
EAST WALKER RANCH
OPEN SPACE DEDICATION
Wednesday, September 30, 2009—4 p.m.
Good afternoon and welcome to the dedication of East Walker Ranch. This beautiful 140-acre parcel is the first land to be purchased through the City’s Open Space Preservation District. This amazing property and our acquisition of it represent a deep commitment to preserving what is both special and important.
With a high country feel and low country access, this parcel has the ability to connect three vital linkages, including the 1,000 acre Golden Valley Ranch site to the northwest; the Santa Clara River that runs through our City, and westward to Placerita Nature Center and the Los Pinetos trail. We are also adjacent to the Angeles National Forest.
I am pleased to be here today and would like to introduce to you the Santa Clarita City Council. We have Councilmembers Laurie Ender, Bob Kellar and Marsha McLean.
We also have two very special guests with us today that I’d like to introduce at this time.
Tom Walker and Melba Walker are 2 of the original 12 Walker children born on Walker Ranch, located just west of where we are standing today! Their father Frank Walker actually homesteaded the property and the Walker name is synonymous with the pioneer spirit of our local history. Please join me in welcoming the Walker children home again!
One of the great things about our City is the amazing partnerships we enjoy with other agencies and the business community. In fact, this land purchase was made possible with the support and funding of two such entities.
With us today from Pardee Homes is Jim Bizzelle, Pardee’s Vice President of Community Development, and from Los Angeles County, 5th District, representing Supervisor Mike Antonovich, is Dave Perry.
We also have with us some dignitaries that I would like to introduce to you. (Read list of dignitaries/agencies).
As public servants, as stewards of our resources, it is imperative that we do everything we can to protect and preserve open space. I am proud to be part of our community’s effort to preserve precious natural lands forever.
Great cities share something important in common. Many are defined by their large open areas or parks. For New York, it is Central Park; for San Francisco, it is Golden Gate Park; and for San Diego, it is Balboa Park. All great legacies! What will our legacy for our children and future generations be in Santa Clarita? We will be defined by our vision and foresight by preserving our connectivity to nature and to our historic past. When our residents wisely voted to have their own Open Space Preservation District in 2007, it enabled our City to continue our land acquisition through our preservation efforts. Right now, nearly 50% of the green belt is complete and the Preservation District will help our City to complete this greenbelt around our City.
Today marks the dedication of a stunning piece of property that will forever be preserved. Over the next few years, you will see more land acquisitions and partnerships with agencies like the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Los Angeles County, as well as other partners, that will help bring more property into public ownership to be preserved forever.
Our goals are to be part of the plan to continue the creation of an amazing community that celebrates its wide open spaces. Thank you all for being part of the process and helping to make sure these lands are preserved for future generations.
