Note: This page was written prior to new park plans which are currently being implemented.
Helping Harbor Park
There are a myriad of things one can do to help
KMHRP. Probably the best way to get started is
to call Rec. & Parks and see what events are
scheduled (not very many), or what might be
needed. The other avenue is to go to the PAB
(Park Advisory Board) and get ideas from them.
Note: Update Aug. 2006 ... it is not known if
the below paragraph still stands as accurate.
The PAB meets the second Tuesday of every month
at 6:30 p.m.. Currently they meet in Councilwoman
Hahn's field office on Vermont at 194th St..
The PAB is in need of a few good people to
be the voice of the habitat and wildlife, since
the City of L.A. and Rec. & Parks choose not to be.
There have been many instances of planned
habitat destruction at the park stopped by
citizens who know a better way. Though too many
were not stopped, and the city and Rec. & Parks
maintenence management remain to this day
(June 03) the greatest single threat to the
habitat and wildlife at the park.
The only way to nip these things in the bud
is to be involved with the process.
As for some more specific things that need doing ...
If I had my druthers there would be monthly
non-native vegetation removal parties there.
One month its passion vine, the next Castor Bean,
the next Curly Dock, etc., etc.. Few things
could benefit the park more than the control
of non-native invasive plants.
The Bullfrogs, Water Snakes, and Turtles all need
to be removed. The non-native dumped ducks &
geese also need removing. These animals being
introduced non-natives have no legal protection,
so no special permits would be required if you
removed them all. But it should be arranged with
Rec. & Parks, and the PAB.
There should be bird nest boxes put up for
species that are hole nesters. Since we
are nuts about cutting down any dead limb,
these species have taken a beating through
loss of nest sites.
The north end willow forest needs cleaning,
since when paper blows off the lawn into ANY
natural area at the park it is no longer a
maintenence issue - they don't pick it up.
The citizens have to. There are several
organized cleanups annually at the park, and
these are a good start, but there need to be
more.
The birds also need islands in the lake to
rest, roost, and nest on, safely away from
people and dog pressures. You can make a
temporary floating platform easily that the
birds will use. Installation must be arranged
through R & P, since you'll need to get in
a boat to place them in the lake.
Click here for more about "bird islands."
Bird Islands
The park would not be there, or be what it is
if it were not for volunteers fighting to save
and protect it. People like the late Ken Malloy,
and the late Shirley Wells, and currently,
Jess Morton and Martin Byhower, and others
have been godsends for the park. They donated
their time to save it for the wildlife to
keep their homes and habitat, and for us to enjoy.
The species and numbers of birds nesting there
need to be counted and monitored. The butterflies
and dragonflies need monitoring too. The annual
Bird (Dec.) and Butterfly (July) counts are good
ways to participate - contact PV Audubon or the PAB.
We're just starting to catalog the Dragonflies and
Damselflies of the site.
The current phone number for Rec. & Parks activities at
KMHRP is 310-548-7728 to get you started on your
way to joining the list of true heroes at KMHRP.
Get involved, give a little, and make a big difference!
Here's a mural the P.V. Audubon summer camp youth made.