The city of Santa Clarita recently closed escrow on the 842 parcel of land known as Elsmere Canyon. Elsmere was slated to become the largest landfill in Los Angeles during the 1990’s, before Senator Barbara Boxer and Congressman Howard McKeon fought to prevent the devastating landfill project.
Elsmere canyon is significant in that it provides a vital link along the Rim of the Valley Corridor, and is a popular area for open space enthusiasts. The valley offers pristine habitat in Newhall pass, and is immediately adjacent to the Angeles National Forest, Whitney and Placerita Canyons. It serves as a wildlife corridor between the Angeles National Forest and O’meveny park and Michael D. Antonovich open space preserve.
The $6,000,000 purchase was made through a Proposition A Grant and funds from L.A. County and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, supplementing the City’s open space district funds of $3.8m.
While the ultimate plans for the property are not yet known to us, we welcome the additional public land, and the closure of one more gap in the Rim of the Valley Corridor.
For more information refer to the City of Santa Clarita web site.
Tags: Elsmere Canyon, LA County, public land purhase, SMMC
