CITY EYES PARCEL TO PRESERVE TRAILS.

Byline: Terry Kanakri Daily News Staff Writer

The agency that oversees open space in Simi Valley is considering buying land near Corriganville Park to prevent development near the site, preserve two historical trails, and protect wildlife habitat.

Staff members of the Rancho Simi Open Space Conservation Agency (RSOSCA), a joint agency of the city and the park district, are reviewing a plan to acquire the land, officials said.

Some city officials already are balking at the idea, saying it would be unwise to spend nearly $130,000 in taxpayers' money to buy the land, which they claim likely will never be developed because the terrain is too steep.

"That's unbuildable land," Mayor Pro Tem Bill Davis, an RSOSCA member, said Tuesday. "I understand what they're after, but I can tell you that my vote will not be for the city to spend money on property that is not usable."

But Steve Iceland, a Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District board member who also is a RSOSCA member, said acquiring the land in east Simi Valley would help maintain the city's high quality of life.

In addition to preserving open space, he said the purchase would preserve a historical wagon trail and an old stagecoach road over the Santa Susana Pass that used to connect the city with the San Fernando Valley.

"We're looking at possibly trying to acquire that area so that people could do some hiking and conserve historically valuable land to Simi Valley," he said. "Part of the quality of life in Simi Valley is people have the ability to use open space and study their history."

Park district general manager Jerry Gladden said the acquisition also would help to preserve important wildlife corridors. He said the staff will report back to RSOSCA as early as late February on the status of the proposed purchase.

RSOSCA is governed by a five-member board whose main function is the acquisition and management of unique open space areas generally within the city's sphere of influence. Currently, the agency owns more than 200 acres, including Corriganville Park east of Kuehner Drive.

Built in 1937, Corriganville was opened to the public as an amusement park in 1949 by actor Ray "Crash" Corrigan. It closed in 1966, one year after it was bought by entertainer Bob Hope.

At its peak, more than 22,000 visitors a day would tour the movie lot, which was used to film westerns such as "Fort Apache" and TV shows like "Rin Tin Tin" and "The Lone Ranger."

Plans are under way to turn Corriganville into a community park, with a visitors center, a museum and theater, youth camping areas, picnic structures, equestrian trails and restrooms.

The land being considered for purchase is located south and east of Smith Road, Gladden said. The size of the parcels totals about 55 acres, but any actual purchase is likely to be less than that, he said.

Officials said the $130,000 price tag of the land would be shared with the city and park district paying $32,500 each, and the balance being financed with the help of a state grant.

Iceland said the acquisition of the land would guarantee open space around Corriganville, and would help the park district to restore the historical trails to make them useful for hiking.

Councilwoman Barbara Williamson, also an RSOSCA member, said she does not support the proposal.

In addition to saying it would be foolish to preserve open space on land that is not developable, Williamson questioned the need to spend money to preserve remote trails that are not likely to be used much.

"The trails are so far removed, I don't see the public going on those roads," she said. "Maybe the park district knows something I don't know.