Agreed. So what can the community do to voice their disapproval? I have been speaking to numerous people in my neighborhood and at work none of whom knew anything about this horrible project until I mentioned it. They have been horrified and want to DO something. So how do we mobilize? What is the next step? I will say it again: preservation and conservation outweigh destructive recreation. Also, I think the state underestimates the value of ecotourism, including birding, for example, which is a major draw to the area. Humanity needs quiet, wild, open places where one can hear oneself think amid the chirping of rare chickadees. Not everything needs to be developed into Disneyland. Rough around the edges is ok! Better than ok, Id say. Save it, dont pave it.
I agree completely. I read both the proposals and neither is appropriate at all. A kids track? As if we need to raise up another generation of habitat destroying humans. 250 camping spots? A southern entrance to the sand highway? Truly, the whole thing is a travesty. What do we do? Please, I really want to know. Oso Flacco is our paradise, a peaceful, natural, quiet, wild place that deserves to stay that way.
Re: “Good vibes at Oso Flaco: Birds and families galore at this Guadalupe oasis on a sunny Sunday”
I want to thank you for highlighting what makes Oso Flaco unique and irreplaceable. If State Parks opens the area as planned (campgrounds, entry point to MadMax Land, kiddie race track etc.) what else can be far behind? I view their proposal as exactly what they want it to be, a gateway: next comes more development to support the campground, for example. I see gas stations, markets, off road shops. Goodbye farmland. Goodbye peace and quiet. Goodbye biodiversity. I am not above begging: State Parks please, please, please shelve the idea that access is the number one priority. There are other, far more important, priorities, like preservation, conservation, sustainability, biodiversity. Let Oso Flaco stand as it is, an already perfect example of the balance the writer above mentions. It already functions as an example of a place where walkers, birders, anglers, beach-goers, hikers, families, artists, daydreamers, and nature lovers of any ilk can come together and enjoy a place that doesnt have the mark of humanity too harshly imprinted on its sand. My favorite thing about Oso Flaco is its relative peace and quiet. Quiet is a commodity that is harder and harder to come by. Dont let the drive for access and off road entertainment supersede all that Oso Flaco already offers. The stretch of beach from the Guadalupe Dunes to Pismo represents balance already. There is no need to tip the scales.