Editorial
The Press Democrat
E.L. Finley, Editor and Publisher
Coast Park Now Assured
After long effort, acquisition of an extensive area along the Sonoma county coast as part of the state park system was assured yesterday through a resolution of the Sonoma county board of supervisors ordering a deed prepared and put in escrow, providing for the transfer of Armstrong Grove to the State of California.
In return, the state park commission is to appropriate $49,000 for the purchase of such lands, as may be selected in the vicinity of Bodega bay. The acquisition of some of these properties has already been agreed to. Others will probably have to be condemned. In the end, however, the matter will no doubt work itself out to the satisfaction of all concerned and to the benefit of the public generally.
For a long time it has been realized that to allow these coast properties to remain in private control or to be transferred to those who might wish to prevent their being enjoyed by others, would be a mistake. That happened in southern California, where for many miles the ocean beaches which should properly belong to the people for all time, have been acquired by private persons, fenced off and reserved for the use of a favored few.
At Long Beach more than a million dollars was expended for the repurchase of beach properties that at one time were practically given away.
It has taken a long time to put this Sonoma County Coast Park project over, but at last a good start has been made.
The people, not only of Sonoma county but of all California, and of the world may now be assured of the right to enjoy the beauties and advantages of our beautiful coast sections so long as time remains, and this will mean much to Sonoma county.
