Future of Pierce College

Since land use at the Pierce College Farm is a continuing wrestling match, let me describe the only proposed use that has tentative approval from the Community College Board of Trustees: Discovery Pavilion.

Discovery Pavilion is a proposed hands-on science-learning center with interactive exhibits, an outdoor science park, a large screen theater for nature and science films, a book and gift store and several classrooms. It would occupy only six acres out of the farm’s 200-acre expanse (about 3%) on a site where cattle used to be grazed but which has not been used for that purpose for about four years. There are only three students in the dairy program currently.

With seed money from Lockheed and Rocketdyne and endorsements from two science teacher organizations groups representing 20 homeowner organizations and the business community Discovery Pavilion is feasible.

In addition, Discovery Pavilion would be popular. Our statistically valid public opinion survey showed that (not surprisingly) 95% did not know about Discovery Pavilion, but that 64% would come and bring their children if it existed. Almost 70% thought that Pierce College was a good location.

The best news was that 51% of the 572 persons randomly selected for the survey actually gave their names and addresses with the understanding that we might contact them for volunteer time or monetary help.

Founding Discovery Pavilion won’t be easy. We’ll have to raise over $11 million to make it happen. But we can’t begin to do that until we have a site.

NELSON E. (NICK) BRESTOFF

Woodland Hills