Shoreline Park ( Cont . from Page 6 )
ABOVE : 1973 Diagrammatic Park Development Plan showing mitigation wildlife areas replacing the proposed marina , now the Mountain View Tidal Marsh , and a portion of the eastern meadow areas , now the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh . ( Editor ’ s Note : Dashed red outline of these areas added for visual emphasis .)
Construction was moving along with 18-wheelers making their way to dump their garbage daily to fill in Shoreline Park . But many were not in favor of filling in the tidal marshes . Then in 1971 , the Army Corps of Engineers stepped in to claim jurisdiction . They required the city to obtain more permits for unfilled areas of any new work . The city felt the park was not within the jurisdiction of the Corps . But the city wanted to avoid a legal battle and filed for a permit . Two complaints spurred the Corps to issue a “ Cease and Desist ” order on October 22 , 1972 .
A public comment meeting was held at the Mountain View High School auditorium on Castro Street on July 10 , 1973 . Environmental groups had challenged the filling in of two key areas of the park . The Casey Slough , and a 90-acre tidal marshland on the east side of the park . About 400 people showed up for the meeting . Leading up to the meeting a revised plan was floated to save these areas from development . Colonel James L . Lammie , Corps of Engineers , presided over the five hour meeting as government representatives and other
Dump trucks unload San Francisco ’ s garbage on the future site of Shoreline Park , the hangars of Moffett Field are visible on the horizon . speakers presented their views . At one point the audience was asked to stand if they supported a change to the park plan . The local newspapers covered the many twists and turns until a final compromise was reached a few months later . The park would be built , and a few areas would remain as tidal marshes . On a map of present-day Shoreline Park , you can see the natural areas finally saved in the park as “ Coast Casey Forebay ”, “ Mountain View Tidal Marsh ”, and “ Stevens Creek Marsh ”.
Today , the area is still undergoing change . The man-made Shoreline Lake is undergoing improvements to its shore and boat launching areas . In addition , the levees of salt ponds just north of the park are being breached to restore them to tidal areas ; An attempt to return some of the land back to the way it was centuries ago . LEFT : The Shoreline Logo — promotional materials from the park ’ s opening described the logo as “ The Great Egret , a graceful bird with a distinct and elegant posture that serves as the symbol for Shoreline , reflects the style directing each phase of Shoreline ’ s development . The rejuvenation of acres of South Bay saltwater marshland and the creation of rolling open meadows at Shoreline is mirrored in the swaying grasses and suggested flight of the great bird featured in the design .”
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