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huntington beach’s butterfly park

Posted on 10. Aug, 2009 by Blair in city of huntington beach

yesterday my family spent an hour walking around at the norma gibbs butterfly park up at the north end of town. the caretakers for the park arranged to have fun stuff for kids to do, a story time and a chance to raise some money for this amazing little park. sally loved walking around the planting areas and we even saw a couple of butterflies float past us during our time there. here is some history on this park…

Norma Brandel Gibbs Park Sims Grove (via the Stock Team)

Prior to being designated as Norma Brandel Gibbs Park, this site was known as Sims Grove. The park is dedicated to the first settlers who established homes and farms on the Bolsa, including prominent people in Orange County political and agricultural life such as Grahams, Heils, Kettlers, Slaters and Moores. They raised lima beans on the fields around the grove and served the county as legislators and agri-businessmen. This grove was planted by Charles Graham, an original settler around the turn of the century (20th), because he needed wood for building. When the wood proved unusable for construction, he used it for firewood. Since that time, generations of children have grown up playing here, the last rural spot in a maturing city.

Sims Grove is a place to sit and reflect amongst the thick eucalyptus groves that provide shade all day long. A stroll through the grove leads to the new Sims Park situated in the Summerlane tract of homes. This region was once a small airport called Meadowlark Airport. It now includes the park and the residential area.

Norma Brandel Gibbs Huntington Beach City Council 1970-1978 & Mayor 1975-1976

A political pioneer, Norma Brandel Gibbs served Huntington Beach as its first woman Councilmember and Mayor. She is a dynamic and visionary leader who contributes unselfishly to improving the quality of life for all living beings. Her deep commitment to helping individuals and communities realize their potential is evident in her career as a professor and in her community work. Her legacy include impacting the lives of thousand of students, the development of Huntington Central Park and neighborhood parks, bicycle paths, beach and wetlands preservation, and the Sister City program. She was also instrumental in the development of the Huntington Beach Library and Cultural Center, and the found of Interval House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Norma Brandel Gibbs’ love of life permeates her love of teaching and the raising of her four children. It is fitting that this park, home to butterflies and people of all ages, is dedicated to this warm, inspiring leader who holds as her motto:

You can fly But that cocoon has to go.

today I received word that on the same day we visited this beautiful park there has been vandalism (via OCRegister.com)

By ANNIE BURRIS

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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HUNTINGTON BEACH – Police are looking for vandals who cut off the tops of seven pine trees and two eucalyptus trees at a Surf City Park over the weekend – trees that were planted during an Arbor Day celebration last year by Boy Scouts, officials said.

“It is just a crime,” said Leslie Gilson, who discovered the broken trees at Gibbs Park on Sunday. “It is sickening that we are working so hard to make the city green and better for the kids and this happens.”

The trees were about 16 months old and could cost about $4,500 total to replace, Jean Nagy with the Huntington Beach Tree Society said.

“They were so well taken care of and they were growing so well,” Nagy said.

In March 2007, the tops of 34 pine saplings were cut off in Central Park. The trees were later replaced by the Tree Society but the vandals were never caught, Nagy said.

About 25 of the trees in Central Park were planted three years ago as part of an Eagle Scout project. The rest of the trees were planted as memorial trees, purchased by people who dedicated them to loved ones.

The vandalized trees in Gibbs Park were part of an effort to restore the park after several dead and dying trees had to be cut down about two years ago because of drought, crowding and pests.

Gibbs is known as part of the winter migrating path of Monarch Butterflies, which are drawn to the eucalyptus trees, said Gilson. She is spearheading the restoration effort.

Huntington Beach police will be increasing their patrols at Gibbs Park, specifically during the night, Police spokesman Lt. Russell Reinhart said.

Anyone with information on the vandalism is asked to call Huntington Beach Police Department at 714-960-8811.

Hopefully those who did this will be caught. Hopefully the City will chip in the needed funds to restore the trees that were lost, or damaged. The volunteers who are passionate about this park are doing a great job at raising funds and maintaining this beautiful little corner of our city. Even though it is simple… the place is beautiful, and frankly our City needs more places like it.