Greenbelt gains 10-acres of land

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park will gain more than 10 acres of

undeveloped land with the recent approval of a $2.6-million grant to

Laguna Woods for its purchase.

The park is part of an 11,000-acre greenbelt that includes several

Laguna Beach open-space sites. Assembly of the greenbelt began about 35

years ago and has grown with the help of groups like Laguna Greenbelt,

Inc., the Laguna Canyon Foundation, the Laguna Canyon Conservancy and the

Coastal Greenbelt Authority.

The grant is from the Coastal Conservancy with funds made available

through Proposition 12, the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean

Air and Coastal Protection bond act of 2000 passed two years ago.

Laguna Woods expects to acquire the land around the end of June and

then lease it to the county, which manages the Laguna Coast Wilderness

Park.