In the Neighborhood : Huntington Beach: Best City in Southern California for Kids

Many long-time residents here lament their city’s transformation over the last 30 years from laid-back beach town of 11,000 to resort destination for 10 million tourists a year. Scruffy seaside charm has given way not just to malls, condos, office parks, and oil wells but to the congestion, crowding and pollution that development generates. A recent study, nevertheless, indicates that Huntington Beach is a top-notch city for children--rated best in that regard in Southern California among 195 cities. The study was conducted by the Zero Population Growth group to determine children’s stress levels in urban areas nationwide.

Factors that weighed in Huntington Beach’s favor included a relatively small and stable population, an above average educational and recreational infrastructure and strong family and community economics. Residents say the city’s children have also benefited from wise planning decisions made decades ago, by the early and continuing involvement of women in city politics, and an appreciation of undeveloped land-particularly the Bolsa Chica wetlands-as a limited and precious resource.

CITY EMPLOYEE

RON HAGEN

Director of Community Services--oversees city’s parks and recreation department, human services, cultural and fine arts programs, beach and marine operations

We have a lot of opportunities for families to meet families. When you’ve got all kinds of swimming classes going on, tiny tot classess and recreational and library activities, you’ve got parents and kids constantly coming and going and talking to each other and that fosters community communication. You get to know your neighbors. And if you know your neighbors you look out for them.

FORMER MAYOR

NORMA BRANDEL GIBBS

City council member from 1970-75, Mayor from 1975-78, recently retired from her job as Cal State Long Beach psychology professor after 35 years

I was the first woman ever elected to the city council in Huntington Beach. Some said, “If we elect Norma she’s just going to appoint all kinds of women to everything,’ and that’s exactly what I did--the first woman on the environmental council, the first on the parks and rec commission, the first on the planning commission, and they were wonderful. The women brought their caring and concern for the children and ideas to implement things for the future.

When I was on the council I would always ask developers this question until I was gaveled out of order: “Would you be willing to live in what you are erecting?” Unless you’re willing to live in what you put up I don’t think your project should go up. That didn’t go over well. I hold developers very responsible for some of the urban ills we have in this region.

When there would be another park dedicated there would always be one who would say, “Now if we had 50 homes on that land, just think of the good tax base we would have.” And I’d say, “So there would be no space for children,” and they’d say, “You’re just so idealistic.” It was not a happy time for me by a long shot. You know what’s happy? Now. When I see the results of everything. The important thing is that it’s done, and you can’t remove it. They can’t bulldoze the parks away and put up condos, and that’s fine.

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Population 1990: 181,519

Density: 6,871 people per square mile

Population by race and ethnicity Anglo: 79% Hispanic: 11% Asian: 8% Other: 2%

12 top-rated Southern California cities for children, and rank among 195 cities studied nationwide 1. Huntington Beach: 22 2. Thousand Oaks: 33 3. Irvine: 34 4. Simi Valley: 35 5. Torrance: 54 6. Rancho Cucamonga: 58 7. Oceanside: 61 8. Fullerton: 63 9. Santa Clarita: 67 10. Orange: 77 11. Glendale: 79 12. Garden Grove: 84

Top 5 cities for children nationwide 1. Overland Park, Kan. 2. Ann Arbor, Mich. 3. Lincoln, Neb. 4. Madison, Wis. 5. Stamford, Conn.

Source: Zero Population Growth Children’s Stress Index

What reduces stress for kids in Huntington Beach?

* 12th safest city in the nation among those with more than 100,000 residents

* classroom spending per pupil above state average

* largest children’s library in the state

* highest percentage of persons over age 25 who are high school graduates among California cities with more than 100,000 residents

* designated bike routes on 75% of all city streets

* five acres of park space designated for every 1,000 residents generated by development--five times the standard recommended by the National Parks and Recreation Assn.

* consultations with children and youth before initiating programs and building facilities. For example, city included 200 skateboarders aged 7-15 on design board that planned its skateboard parks.

Sources: U.S. Census, FBI, City of Huntington Beach, California Department of Education

For information about Huntington Beach’s recreational programs call 714-536-5486.