Barbara Boniface (“Los Osos has plenty of parkland,” May 7) says Los Osos already has 618 acres of parkland and does not need a better community park. Yes, we are fortunate to have many acres of protected open space, beautiful reserves that safeguard habitat and offer opportunities for passive recreation. Here’s the thing: Community parks serve an essential purpose that’s distinct from open space and natural reserve areas. They’re designed and equipped for many kinds of active recreation, everyday social life, and accessibility for everyone, including those with special needs, since many of our local natural reserves are not ADA-compliant.
Community parks are where people create memories, gather as families and friends, and participate in recreational activities. They provide play structures, sports fields and courts, shared spaces for active recreation and everyday social connections—all essential for mental and physical health. Right now, Los Osos has just one 6-acre community park, the same size as we had 50 years ago. That may have been adequate for a town of 2,000 residents, but for our community of 15,000, it falls incredibly short of what we need. A good community park isn’t a luxury; it’s part of the town’s basic civic infrastructure and essential to one’s health.
Los Osos has lived with too little park space for far too long. Acquiring Sunnyside School and turning it into Sunnyside Park is our opportunity to begin changing that. Let’s turn the page and vote yes on Measure B-26, for a better community park now and for many generations to come.
Elizabeth Denny
Los Osos
This article appears in May 21-28, 2026.