By Leslie Lodestro

Other Voices

Note: This is the second of a two-part series on the Covington-Rosita project.

The neighbors of Rosita Avenue are recovering from the sting of being called NIMBYs (not in my back yard) after they voiced opposition over the new Rosita Pool Complex being pushed by SPLASH (Swimmers Promoting Los Altos Aquatics Safety & Health).

The new neighborhood organization has formed to fight the proposed 35,000 square foot (two pools plus one wading pool) complex which they fear will bring more traffic, noise and unwanted lighting to their already busy, recreational area.

The group rejects their “NIMBY” label by explaining that they already have more than their fair share in their back yards.

And indeed, a walk down Rosita presents plenty: two baseball diamonds, two soccer fields, a couple of tennis courts, a tot-lot and at the end of the dead-end street, a soon-to-be reopened elementary school along with a day care facility.

“We have some real safety concerns with all of the additional traffic that will be introduced to the neighborhood if the new pools are built,” says Gulnar Kawas, a neighbor. She adds, “Since the opening of Rosita Park, we have already experienced an increase in noise and traffic due to the addition of soccer and baseball fields, and the re-opening of Covington School will visit these problems on incoming school children as well.”

Gulnar notes that the old Covington pool was accessed through the front of Covington School and as a result there was little or no impact on the neighborhood when it was operational. The new pool site has moved directly to the end of the street, replacing an existing tennis court and gobbling up part of the street and parking lot that is there now.

The only logical way to get to the new pool is to travel straight down Rosita.

Adding to the neighbors’ concerns is the reopening of Covington School, slated for 2002. It is estimated that 60 percent of the incoming students reside on the Rosita side of the schools, and accordingly that entrance to the school will be heavily used for pickup and drop-off. All of these extra anticipated trips, piled on top of the already busy recreational schedule, have the neighbors reeling.

Everyone agrees that the November 2000 land swap between the School District and the city opened the door wide for the new pool. What the neighbors don’t agree with is the perception by SPLASH and some council members that they were active and supportive, or even aware of the land swap.

In fact, a check with the Planning Department revealed that there was never any city noticing for the swap. The neighbors’ lack of involvement at that point left them feeling hoodwinked by the time the new pool plans were unveiled in February.

And it’s not just the immediate neighborhood which is feeling the angst. Surrounding streets which will become feeder routes to the new pool are beginning to get involved. Even non-neighbors are looking at the project. John Love, a founder of Los Altos Pony baseball is concerned about a serious parking deficit if the new pool is constructed as planned.

Neighbor Marty Collins looks at the project and shakes his head. He was comfortable with talk of a reopened Covington Pool being grandfathered into the site with multiple access. But now that the location of the pool has changed and the full scope of the city’s and the school’s plans have become clearer, he feels that even a single pool may be unworkable.

“It’s nobody’s fault,” he notes, “But there’s been a lot of misunderstanding about who this project will benefit, and who it will affect.” He adds, “Once you’ve been to Rosita Park, you can see why the proposed plans won’t work. I think the deal’s off at this point.”

As current Rosita Park users and future Covington parents become aware of what the Rosita neighbors already know, this sentiment may very well garner enough support to throw a large amount of cold water on the whole aquatic complex.

Those interested in more information about Rosita neighborhood involvement can contact: rositaneighbors@yahoo.com.

Lodestro is president of the Los Altos Neighborhood Network a self-described neutral homeowners group that seeks to inform the community on local issues.