New Brighton State Park (Aptos, California)

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Porter-Sesnon (wingspread)

The Porter-Sesnon property in Aptos, California is adjacent to New Brighton State Park. In the early 90's this property was the focus of heated battles between developers seeking to build a conference center and local residents seeking to preserve coastal open space. The locals won.
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Coordinates:   36°58'47"N   121°55'39"W

Comments

  • Credit is due to Vickie Powell, who spearheaded the fight for over 17 years to stop the inappropriate development of this prime oceanfront property. She formed the Friends of Porter-Sesnon, wrote the winning ballot measure to stop the development (winning by a 2/3rd majority) and co-authored with Senator Henry Mello, the legislation that acquired the property for a state park. For her work on this issue the California Sierra Club presented her with their Environmentalist of Year Award. Also in recognition of her efforts, the California State Parks Department system placed a bronze plaque at the park entrance, dedicating the park to Ms. Powell and Senator Mello.
  • As one of the people who fought Wingspread for over 10 years, this was a hard fought victory for Aptos, and Santa Cruz county. Today the area is preserved as open space. If Ryland Kelly (developer), Rowland Rebele (Cabrillo), and Bruce McPhearson of the Santa Cruz Sentinel had their way, there would be a huge conference center sitting right in the middle of our County, destroying the beautiful coastal bluffs. It is amazing what these people do to defend the "arts." I'm an artist, and I don't want to see this type of development in the place where I grew up. A lot of people deserve credit for defeating this development. You know who you are.
  • The only thing driving developers is $$$, not what is best for the community at large. To hell with the lot of 'em.
This article was last modified 7 years ago