THE CHOICEST PIECE of prime property in Ventura is getting a remake.
Long a spot for weddings, picnics and tourist photos, Serra Cross Park in Ventura's Grant Park is scheduled for a major beautification effort.
That is, if we can raise the money.
In 2003, a group of us, led by now-Mayor Christy Weir and former Historic Preservation Committee Chair Tracy Long, launched an effort to buy the property from the city after it was put up for sale. The city was forced to divest itself of the cross and one acre of land surrounding it because of a pending lawsuit charging that the principle of separation of church and state was being violated by city ownership and maintenance of a cross.
We raised $104,000 and had the winning bid for the property. Our group, the Serra Cross Conservancy, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, has been managing the property ever since.
Taking care of a popular public park hasn't always been easy. As it is with any public area, there is a certain element who visits and likes to be destructive. Even the Cross itself has been subject to vandalism - and subsequent repairs - over the years. Site maintenance is financed through donations for use of the property for weddings and events.
IT HAS LONG BEEN OUR DREAM, however, to do something more for the people who love visiting this scenic spot. So we enlisted the aid of a wonderful local design firm, Ted Temple and Associates, to design something really special. We are excited by the firm's plans. For an idea of what it will look like, see the watercolor painting above by local artist Norman Kirk.
The upper circular parking area will be turned into a scenic walking and strolling area with a fountain, benches, native plants, sycamores and two levels of trails. The parking lot will be relocated to an adjacent area. The cross platform and cross itself will remain intact, but will be spiffed up. We've already put in new plantings and hope to put in boulders around the base and a new walkway.
"Ventura's Grant Park is one of the most spectacular locations in the county," Weir said. "The goal of the Serra Cross Conservancy is to maintain the historic cross and surrounding one-acre park and enhance the landscaping to make this gem even more beautiful and usable. We depend on donations, so this will be possible only through the generosity of our community."
Weir is doing her part to generate those donations. She was recently asked to participate in the "Salsa with our Local Stars Dance Contest & Charity Fundraiser" at the Oxnard Salsa Festival on Sunday, July 27. So she's working on her dance steps and will donate the proceeds from the fundraiser to the Cross beautification efforts.
With the city's Grant Park Master Plan on hold, this privately funded effort may be the only chance we have for many years of doing something better for this underutilized but beautiful public space.
For more about the dance contest go here. If you would like to learn more about donating to the Serra Cross Conservancy, go here.
Watching the City strapped with a ridiculously petty law suit over a historical cross caused much grief for many of us. No one expected it, and we certainly didn't need the hassle from an outside organization trying to tell us what to do. Then, the overwhelming response and outcry from the community to protect this wonderful landmark was an absolute delight.
Even now, with current invasive problems of vandalism, graffiti and years of wear-and-tear this is still one of my favorite locations in Southern California to frequent. I'm thankful it's still a public access park. One of the plaques on the platform from the Rotarians shows the last major work done at the cross was in the 1960s. This certainly seems like a really good time for a makeover. I hope we all can give a little (or a lot) to make it happen.
I remember all the grief the city went through when the lawsuit was filed - it was just awful. It is a great park and I hope everyone steps up to the plate.
i visit grant park alot and i believe there's more of a need for road rehabilitation vegitation control and gates and cables to keep the 4 wheeling trucks off the hills they are destroying the hiking trails on the hills and creating erosion problems in the winter go check it out sit read a newspaper you'll see what i mean i also would like to see where your acre around the cross is surveyed i see the maintenance crews work there i just don't see an acre
I wish we could work on the rest of the park, too. But the city's Grant Park Master Plan was put on hold due to budget issues. It's a great spot and I know there was some talk at one time about an amphitheater.
The Serra Cross Conservancy is only doing improvements on the land it owns. We had a survey done about a year and half ago.
Maybe we should use the money that's going to be used to paint the sculpture at the Transit Center on restoring Grant Park.
Good article, Marie! I have bookmarked the Serra Cross website and will make a donation. This will be money well spent. Thanks for highlighting the need!
I have a lot of out of town visitors, being a New York Native. I bring everyone up to the park and watch them marvel over the absolute beauty. I sometimes go up there and reflect on how lucky I am to live in such a wondrous place. The people are friendly, the weather is spectacular, what is not to like. I feel that when I am way up on the hill looking down I can experience Ventura as a whole. It is intoxicating. anything we can do to preserve that magic is fine with me. Let me know how I can help Marie.
I like what you're doing, Marie, and I commend the Mayor on the fine work she has done to preserve this site so far. This is one of the real treasures in the City and I'm glad there's a nonprofit in existence to support the maintenance efforts. Bravo!
Marie,
If it isn't on youtube you should make a brief video and post it. Then when people search for it online they can see it in full. Might drive a small amount of tourism.
I had the great fortune to be able to take my wedding vows at this location. It's a very special place but it has tremendous potential to be much more. I love the new design. Thank you for highlighting it, Marie. Are there prints of Norman's watercolor available? I am forever grateful to Christy and others who saved The Cross from those who sought to destroy it.
Hi Angie, I think we will likely sell prints. Thank you for your support. We appreciate it.
Chick blog.
Perhaps Marie can do something on the next Monster Truck show at the Fairgrounds for you Mongo Flamo.
Believe me, that would be refreshing...
Oh come on, Mongo, you know you like all this girl talk.