THANKS:
To the creative force that shaped this amazing landscape for us to cherish and enjoy.
To Dave Myers for envisioning a State Park in Chino Hills.
To Dave Cowardin for putting together the Whittier Open Space Plan.
To those leaders who understand the need for places of beauty in the heart of cities so that those people who need it most have a place to reconnect to the earth and to each other.
To the stalwart residents of Whittier, Hacienda Heights, La Habra Heights, Rowland Heights, Brea, Yorba Linda, and Chino Hills who know that democracy is in each of our hands and that collectively we can work wonders.
To Richard Nixon, born in Yorba Linda at one end of our hills and raised in Whittier at the other end, for signing the Endangered Species Act in 1973 while President and for commenting at the time: “Nothing is more priceless than the rich array of animal life with which our country is blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure.”
To the numerous, nameless biologists who under miserable conditions in locales all around the world learned about the need for connectivity of landscapes to maintain biodiversity and then taught us about this.
To the California State Parks Department for understanding the need for connectivity and for its continued efforts in carrying the message forward to other state agencies.
To Dr. Jeff Hansen for his continuing generosity in donating the use of his amazing pictures of Chino Hills State Park.
To Connie Spenger who volunteered for 30 years to save this region.
To Geary Hund, State Park Resource Ecologist, who retired after 25 years of service to State Parks and whose knowledge and dedication has been sorely missed.
To the family, friends, and colleagues of former HFE Board Member Dr. Jill Kowalik for their generous contributions and thoughtful notes at her passing.
To Rachel Hooper and Gabriel Ross of the law firm of Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP for their skills, experience, and wisdom in helping to protect these lands.
To former state legislators Ross Johnson, Dick Ackerman, and Hilda Solis whose leadership helped create the State Park and then secured its future by saving Coal Canyon.
To long-time Whittier Councilmember Bob Henderson for his quarter century of leadership in protecting open space.
To all of the staff who work diligently to understand and deal with the details of complex issues that impact the Wildlife Corridor in this highly urbanized setting.
To the many volunteers throughout the hills who tirelessly contribute time, money, and energy to protect this lovely little slice of our planet.