Cluff Vista Park Undergoes Maintenance
Lately, Cluff Vista has been getting some love from both the City of Ojai and Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Restoration Field Crew. The park has been pruned, cleaned, planted, and mulched. Just before Christmas Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Field Crew planted native plants grown in their own Ojai Meadows Preserve nursery to fill in the bare areas throughout the park. “We mostly planted sages, mugwort, mallow, and wild rose—and then did some weeding,” said Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Preserve Manager, Rick Bisaccia. “I remember coming to this lot when it was a Shell gas station in the 60’s when I was a kid, so it amazes me that this is now a park with native plants!” The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy has another planting planned in the next couple weeks to contribute to the City’s efforts.
This is the first time the park has been pruned so drastically since it was created, largely to clean out frost damaged dead wood and debris, but also at the suggestion of the police department so they can more easily see through the bushes to the center of the park. Public Works has also given the order to cut back 50% on watering due to the current drought, and the pruning will help the plants conserve water. The park belongs to the City of Ojai, which bears the responsibility for maintenance of the park, but the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy helps from time to time with specific special projects.
Many of us drive by Cluff Vista Park in downtown Ojai almost everyday. Unless you are on foot it is easy to miss this gem of a park. In 2002, an abandoned gas station was turned into a downtown park in a unique joint effort between the City of Ojai and Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, and it was made possible with a generous contribution from the Cluff Family along with over 200 other contributors from the community. When asked about the park, Don Cluff says “We always refer to it as a park, but it’s not the kids play area that comes to mind with the word park. There is not a green lawn nor swings—it is more like a piece of wilderness brought into town.” With the native plants and grasses, Cluff Vista attracts the hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife of our surrounding hills. “It is a place in town where teachers can bring their students to learn about Ojai’s native plants and wildlife. You can even see a roadrunner’s foot prints down the steps to the fountain.”
Pink Moment From Cluff VIsta Park
Sheila Cluff walks her guests from the Oaks through Cluff Vista Park twice a week, explaining to them how the park came about. Two separate guests have shared with her how they were inspired by the park, and have successfully worked with their local land conservancies to turn old gas stations in their hometowns into parks as well. According to Sheila, Cluff Vista Park is the perfect place to take in the Pink Moment. With a view of downtown Ojai surrounded by mountains and the Topa Topas in background—it is the spot to visit and appreciate the beauty of Ojai. To learn more about the Cluff Vista Park, visit www.ovlc.org.
