Tonight, I was watching the end of Huell Howser’s “California Gold” on KCET, when he went to a promo for Ken Burn’s series on the National Parks that is also running on the station. And, where was Huell for the promo? In the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA)! That is our home national park, here in the Conejo! It includes Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park, home of Mount Boney, and Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons by Oak Park and Agoura Hills, as well as parks on Kanan Dume Road a little further away.
Huell said that SMMNRA is the largest national park in the country near an urban center.  That was news to me, and I think it is so special that it is in our own backyard.
I believe his promotion for the national park series was filmed at the open grassy area at Paramount Ranch park. I know there was a kickoff party ther for the series, earlier this year.
Now we are famous!
Link to California Gold:Â Â http://calgold.com/Â Â Link to Ken Burns’ National Parks Series:Â http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/
Posted by Janna Orkney
Jeanne Cope // Sep 30, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Most importantly, the National Parks are just that: park. This open space is neither liberal or conservative. It is free of hate and anger so much on the political landscape these days. This wonderful gift of wild open space is not just us, but for the our children and their children. We can all find peace in the sound of the wind, howling of coyotes, and call of the hawk. We can all feel satisfaction to know it will be there for the next generation. Next time you see and smell wild sage along the trail remember this.
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area simply is. Let us just keep it that way.
Steve Hess // Oct 4, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Hi Janna,
I understand the series has been such a success that the NPS sold out of the series DVD’s almost immediately. Congratulations to SMMNRA Superintendent Woody Smeck & Ken Burns for doing such a great job of telling the story of the Santa Monica Mountains!