Donna Phillips holds her grandson, Matthew, while standing with Anne Falos at Lodi Lake. Both women are members of Friends of Lodi Lake. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

Proposal for extreme sports event ignites debate about future of Lodi Lake

Some feel Lodi Lake should be left alone and measures made to keep even cars out, while others think it should be a money-maker.

What should be the purpose of Lodi Lake?

That issue resurfaced last month when the City Council was asked to allow a weekend-long extreme sports exhibition at the park.

Should the lake and surrounding park be a site for speed boaters and community events, or a haven for bird watchers and personal solace?

Mayor Larry Hansen has taken the first step in asking community members a similar question. He wants to know how people see the lake and has asked the issue appear on a city survey currently being put together by a private company.

Parks and Recreation Commissioner Bob Johnson took a different step and has asked that a discussion be held tonight on developing a use policy for Lodi Lake. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in Carnegie Forum, 305 W. Pine St.

What is its purpose?

A developed Lodi Lake dates back to the mid-1850s when fur trappers from the Hudson's Bay Co. in French Camp came to trap beavers along the river near Woodbridge, according to the Lodi Historical Society.

Shortly thereafter, the Sergeant family began planting crops along the river bottom. Some 40 years later, a wooden dam was completed and the low-lying pond of Lodi Lake became known as Smith's Lake.

Since then, it has undergone several transformations but has remained a place for recreation, from swimming to boating. Another portion was fenced and devoted as livestock pasture. The adjacent property was sold to the city in the early 1930s.

Today, Lodi Lake serves as the site for several annual events, including Fourth of July's "Oooh Ahhh" festival and the

Youth Commission's "Wet 'n' Wild" extravaganza.

On any given weekend, residents rent portions of the park for wedding receptions, birthday parties and even overnight campouts -- a privilege one can get with a paid reservation through the Parks and Recreation Department. Larger events require City Council approval.

Still, others would like it the park to remain quiet and natural. They feel the set-aside nature area is not enough and that the whole park should be like that.

Currently it is separated into two distinct areas with a fence surrounding the nature area which abuts the Mokelumne River. The lake is set closer to Turner Road.

So, what is the future of the lake?

"I don't think anyone knows. There's just no vision for this park," replied Donna Phillips, co-founder of the Friends of Lodi Lake.

"But we're at a crossroads, and I'm just delighted we're talking about it."

Not a new issue

Issues surrounding the lake started years ago.

As early as the mid-1970s, city officials were examining ways to protect the city's so-called "crown jewel." Parks leaders did a study that included, among other things, looking at eliminating all automobiles in some or all areas of the park and limiting activities inconsistent with the lake's natural values.

In 1987, in another report, the lake was the focus of a master plan drawn up by consultant Richard Bigler and approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission. From that, a no-wake zone for motorboats and jet skis was approved, and bicycle access was limited.

Bigler also suggested fencing off the nature area, prohibiting dogs and locking the gate at night -- all accomplished since then.

Five years later, JC Draggoo & Associates examined all of the cities parks, including Lodi Lake.

Draggoo, who could not be reached for comment, recommended that the city needed to provide "a more balanced system between active and passive space" throughout all of the parks, the report says.

He also suggested a trail system for walking and bicycling, noting that the only off-street path that existed was the Lodi Loop Trail.

Another revision of the master plan was done by the city in 1997 and included a few changes, but none addressed the big question about the lake's future use.

Phillips has led a renewed look at protecting the lake which includes limiting vehicular access, constructing an eco-village to educate the public about conservation and increasing security.

Using information from Bigler's master plan, the Friends of Lodi Lake also suggested developing a 13-acre parcel on the lake's western side as a park area, complete with motorized tram and nature classroom. It is currently used as over-flow parking or parking for bike path users.

"We feel the west can support all the things in the park better than it is now (meshed) with nature," Phillips said last week.

Passive vs. active

Phillips and the Friends of Lodi Lake want to have the lake defined. The organization, run by a board of directors, lobby on behalf of the park to ensure its natural beauty and serenity.

"What do we want people from out of town to think of our lake?

"People don't come to the lake to see cars and boom-boom boxes," Phillips said of private parties.

"They come here to get away and recharge."

A park neighbor for more than 20 years, she said she speaks for all Friends of Lodi Lake members.

She's been to parks in other countries where smoking is not allowed and where users are prohibited from coming within an arm's length of trees as to not disturb the roots.

"We have cars that drive on our roots here."

She is also concerned about noise pollution from hand-held speed boats, and water and air pollution from the full-size ones.

"It should be our choice to have peace and quiet. And, I would feel this way if I didn't live here."

The Friends of Lodi Lake want an increased green area and decreased black-top area -- and they want the city to stop scheduling "one event on top of another," Phillips said, adding that there is overuse with "non-blending" activities.

But Nancy Beckman, executive director of the Lodi Conference and Visitors Bureau, wants to see more events like BoardStock, an extreme sports exhibition, come to Lodi.

"Being a resident of Lodi, I understand the concerns voiced and the desire to see the lake remain natural," she said.

"But there's a balanced that needs to be reached. The lake is a community venue, and it needs to be accessible to everyone for different purposes."

Former Parks and Recreation Director Ron Williamson, who retired in 2000 after 35 years with the department, said during his tenure he found those living around the lake wanted a natural setting, while those who lived further away desired more activities.

"It's a tug-of-war," he said.

He recently sent a note to Parks and Recreation Director Tony Goehring wishing him luck in creating that happy-medium between active and passive -- a feat he couldn't do in his years heading the department, Williamson said.

"The person who can ever come up with the solution is going to be a real quality individual because it's so hard to know what everyone wants."

Williamson does not think the debate will ever end.

"We have to start asking ourselves as a community: How do we want it used, or not used?"

'Show me the money'

Part of the use comes down to money. The Parks and Recreation Department has a policy to recover 35 percent of its costs through revenue.

"And we're struggling to meet that," Goehring said. "We were expecting $3,800 in rent for BoardStock and a $1 surcharge from the tickets. We're in the era of 'Show me the money.'"

Lodi Lake Docent Coordinator Kathy Grant said she was disappointed the opportunity to make money was missed in BoardStock.

"Bottom line is, we've got to make money. We need to make money off our resources, and the lake is one of them," she said.

"I have to laugh at the people who said it would hurt wildlife. It's already man's park at the front."

Beckman said more events simply mean more tourists to spend money here.

"With all the budget issues facing the city, tourism is a viable way to enhance the local economy. We need to consider those options."

Parks and recreation commissioner Ken Sasaki feels similarly.

"Depending on the economic times, the lake can be a useful commodity through tourism. We have to do what we have to do in the best interest of Lodi," he said.

"Just because we use it for BoardStock doesn't mean it stays that way forever.

"When times are good, we can use it as a passive lake."

Hansen supported BoardStock coming to the lake because it provided a new avenue for the use of the park and reached out to a new segment of the population.

"BoardStock was one weekend. If it was every weekend, that would different," he said.

(The event organizers have not yet made a decision to come to Lodi. The City Council approved the use, only if the motocross portion was left out.)

Balancing act

Councilwoman Susan Hitchcock said allowing an event like BoardStock at Lodi Lake would be like putting padded walls up on Hutchins Street Square's north hall for indoor soccer.

"Some people would have a problem with that. It's not real consistent with what goes on there," she said.

"I don't think that every recreational facility has to be made for active recreation."

But Beckman thinks there can be a balance between holding weekend events at the lake and keeping it serene.

"I think you can do both, provided you're not having boat races every weekend," she said.

"I trust that our city government will not overstep the boundaries."

Although there are many opinions surrounding the lake and its purpose, someone has to make a decision.

And, Johnson, the parks and recreation commissioner and also a News-Sentinel columnist, wants the City Council to be that body. He is asking its members to set a use policy on how much revenue should be collected and how that should be done.

Hansen wants to see a non-exclusive lake.

"I have torn feelings. I understand the desire for having a serene lake for people to enjoy, but I have an issue with limiting public use to a public park. It's not a lake for one segment of the society," he said.

"The problem is you have clashing interests."

That issue became apparent shortly after Bigler's study was concluded.

After a four-season examination of the lake that ended in 1987, the consultant offered his opinion in a brief written conclusion. He cautioned, however, that he could not make a decision on the lake's future instead leaving that task to the citizens.

A now-retired Bigler, contacted by the News-Sentinel, said it should be a passive lake.

"Leave it alone. Why do we have to man-handle everything?" he said.

"It's beautiful in the middle of the city. How can you beat that?"

When told of the proposed BoardStock event, Bigler said it is inappropriate and any speedboats on the lake will erode the banks and allow trees to fall in.

"You don't need that."

In the end, Goehring, who favors an active park, said he's not sure what good a plan would do.

"You can have organizations that can have a more passive interest, but you can work closely with them to get some activities out there," he said.

Goehring hopes responses to the city survey will help provide direction and solicit opinions from a broader group of citizens.

"What happened to the community vision?"