GGNRA "making nice" with the public at Rancho Corral in Montara

From Half Moon Bay review/Lily Bixler, 2/13/12.  Half Moon Bay Review, 2/13/12.

"During a drizzly Saturday morning "soup and cider social," a friendly Australian Shepherd named Sadie wore a t-shirt with a crossed-out gun that read " Don't Tase my Master." Sadie's owners Heidi and Jim Csaain wore similarly subversive messages on shirts made especially for a Saturday morning community gathering at the end of Coral Reef Avenue, a neighborhood entrance to Rancho Corral de Tierra, with National Parks and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. 

No available Chihuahuas*

The meet-up was planned prior to a Jan. 29 incident where a Coastside resident Gary Hesterberg reported being tased by National Park ranger Sarah Cavallaro during a confrontation over walking his dog off-leash. Local dog owners have protested over what they consider excessive force used in the incident. Others have risen to the defense of Cavallaro, saying she acted appropriately given circumstances, given the possibility that Hesterberg provided the ranger with a false name. "We felt the incident that occurred a few weeks ago was out of control and inappropriate," Jim Kain said. "You don't shoot someone in the back when they're walking away." He said he was out at the park Saturday morning to make sure local dog owners keep the rights to walk their dogs at Rancho Corral.

Incident aside, GGNRA's San Mateo County Community Coordinator Christine Carey said, the agency was here to meet and greet the neighbors. As such, the park agency provided information about the property, hot cider and chowders for humans and dog treats for the canines.

Risa Galant, an El Granada resident and the owner of a Pyrenees named Kyle, said she was delighted when GGNRA bought the property, however things haven't gone as she expected. She explained that locals, many of whom have been looking after Rancho Corral over the years, and the national agency are now dealing with "trust issues."  "Showing up and talking is a good step," she said. "They are aware of it and they are choosing to work hard to be (in communication.)"

GGNRA Spokesman Howard Levitt said the process of mending that trust will take time. About a dozen of the 40 or so people present during the Saturday "soup and cider social" were GGNRA officials. They seemed eager to speak with the community.  National Parks is trying to hear from the community about the history of local use of Rancho Corral, Levitt said. GGNRA hopes to plan several more gatherings in coming months around the Midcoast.

"Here I am!"

The taser incident aside, there's been ongoing community frustration over the last year or so about Golden Gate National Recreation Area's purchase of Rancho Corral. Some worry about portal access and what having a new national park will do to the neighborhoods that abut the park. Jennifer Harden, Clipper Ridge resident and owner of a mutt named Ray, said there were, "lots of conversations going on with people in green and those not in green. She was referring to the park officials' forest green uniforms. Harden wondered why the public event Saturday was held at the Corral Reef access to the park. She wants a federal-supported portal from Highway 1 that leads up the trail before GGNRA starts planning events that will impact neighbors in the vicinity. GGNRA needs to de-emphasize the ‘porous boundary' to Rancho until they're ready to manage it," she said. Levitt said GGNRA is trying to find places for people to park and get access to the land that will not impact the neighborhoods. "We're trying to figure that out by working with the community," he said."

*Reference to blog comment, 2/12/12, 2:34pm. The picture, of course,  is that of Sadie, an Australian Sheppard wearing a T-shirt: "Don't tase my  Master".

Posted by Kathy Meeh