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MyspaceElings Park directors have agreed not to hold wedding receptions or host organized bike races on Elings Park South as part of a legal settlement hammered out between the park and attorneys for the County of Santa Barbara. The deal, announced Tuesday, allows the park to pursue permits for more active uses of the land in the future, but for the time being, use of the property will be limited to more passive recreational activities in deference to the wildlife living there. Hang gliding will still be allowed. Recreational mountain bikers will still be allowed to take advantage of the park’s network of switch-backing trails; organized cycling events, however, will not.
Paul Wellman (file)
Jerry Harwin
The park found itself in hot water with the county last year when some park neighbors — upset by amplified music coming from wedding receptions — complained that certain activities taking place at Elings exceeded what was permitted under the park’s covenant with the county. The county had donated $500,000 to help acquire the southern portion of the park in 1999. At that time, it stipulated in general terms that the land should be used for passive recreation. However, the county’s covenant with the park was vague. In the meantime, Elings Park directors are planning to host a 99th birthday bash for park founder Jerry Harwin on March 12 at the Biltmore. Harwin led the effort to convert what was an abandoned landfill into the only privately owned park open to the public in the nation. Harwin, who famously attributes his longevity to wine, women, and song — “but not necessarily in that order” — first got the idea in the 1960s.
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Comments
Just to clarify this story: THE BMX TRACK REMAINS IN OPERATION WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS.
I understand that certain elements of the Indy community wants to eliminate that aspect from Elings Park through incomplete reporting, no surprise there.
The last time this issue was covered it made it sound as if the bulldozers were ringing the track & it was headed for destruction. WRONG!
The track is staying, the ONLY holdback being experienced currently is the rains. The schedule is as follows:
Mon: 4-5pm skills clinics taught by Chantel Blanchet, regular practice from 5-7pm. The clinic & practice is $10, practice only is $5.
Wed. 4-5pm skills clinics taught by Chantel Blanchet, regular practice from 5-7pm.The clinic & practice is $10, practice only is $5.
Sat. 10-11:30am practice, racing starts soon afterward. Practice only is $5, practice & racing is $10, you must have an ABA membership.
Sun. 12-3pm practice/freeride. Practice is $5.
Come on out, bring the kids & their bikes, bring your bike too, mountain bikes work just fine (I ride my DH bike there sometimes), must have a helmet :) henry
hank (anonymous profile)
March 3, 2011 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The BMX track is there for now, but all those wedding megareceptions and drunk-driving generators are still proposed for a new building at the same location.
David_Pritchett (David Pritchett)
March 3, 2011 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does someone know if weddings can be held there, without receptions?
ahem (anonymous profile)
March 4, 2011 at 12:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ahem: I;ve got a place that may answer your question, The Indy’s 2011 Wedding Issue
Plan Your Wedding with Our S.B.-centric How-To-Guide
http://www.independent.com/news/2011/...
webadmin (webadmin)
March 4, 2011 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I get the feeling at some point someone was kicked out of Elings Park or his was dog denied a license or something like that. Can't wait to hear about all the drunk driving arrests that have come from people who were at the Park. Probably shouldn't hold my breath waiting for something from someone with zero credibility.
WilliamMunny (anonymous profile)
March 4, 2011 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)