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Fairview Park activists and wildlife agencies urge halt to flying at Vernal Pool watershed; community asks city to move Harbor Soaring Society away from fragile
Summary
Residents and Fairview Park Alliance told council that US Fish & Wildlife and other agencies have warned that model‑air activities in parts of Fairview Park risk harming federally listed species and sensitive habitat; speakers asked the city to stop flying in the Vernal Pool watershed until a full master plan update and biological evaluation are
Speakers representing Fairview Park Alliance and other residents asked the City Council on April 15 to prevent remote‑controlled glider and model‑aircraft activity in the park’s Vernal Pool watershed, citing recent communications from wildlife agencies and visible damage to sensitive plants and potential bird habitat.
What residents said: Kim Hendricks of Fairview Park Alliance said a January 27, 2025, communication from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service does not support activities that might impact federally listed or sensitive biological resources in Fairview Park. Hendricks asked the city to prohibit flying over the Vernal Pool watershed until the Fairview Park master plan is updated and a full biological evaluation completed. She said volunteers have observed grading and impacts to fragile tar plant habitat and burrowing owl areas and proposed moving hobby‑flight activity to a paved parking area on the park’s east side.
Additional public comment: Another speaker described past disturbances to the Vernal Pool watershed, including removal of plants and newly created informal trails, and said the site contains archeological artifacts associated with indigenous use. Speakers urged the council and staff to follow the wildlife agencies’ recommendations, remove flying activity from the vernal pool area and implement stricter site protections.
City response and context: Staff and council did not take action during the meeting; council and the public noted that the issue will be discussed by the Fairview Park steering committee and that the park master plan is being updated. The Fairview Park steering committee, multiple park volunteers and federal and state wildlife agencies were cited by speakers as stakeholders with technical input on habitat protection.
Why this matters: Fairview Park contains vernal pools, sensitive native plants such as the tar plant and habitat used by burrowing owls. Federal and state wildlife agencies can weigh in on activities that affect listed species and wetlands, and the park’s master plan is the city’s tool to evaluate and manage park uses and habitat protection.
Ending: Residents asked the council to follow agency guidance, stop activities with potential impacts to sensitive resources until the master plan and formal environmental evaluations are complete, and consider moving flying activities to a hardened parking area to avoid ecological damage.
