I’d like to introduce you to my daughters.
If you’ve spent any time around the ENC, you’ve probably seen children like them. Mud on their shoes. Sticks in their pockets. Completely convinced that a few acres of nature can become an entire world.
My youngest, Evie, loves passing out flyers. Not because she fully understands city planning or development proposals. She’s four. But she understands that the ENC is special. She loves stopping strangers and telling them to come help. She feels proud to be part of something bigger than herself.
My oldest, Emma, sat through a 2.5-hour City Council meeting last year and listened to person after person stand up and talk about why the ENC matters. She was completely transfixed. The “Protect ENC” sign she made for that day is still sitting on her dresser over a year later.
What surprises me is that they both still ask about “the buildings.”
Kids forget a lot of things. But they haven’t forgotten this.
Every once in a while they’ll ask me, “What’s happening with the buildings next to the ENC?”
And every time they do, I’m reminded that they’re watching us.
They’re watching what adults do when something they love is threatened.
They’re watching whether we show up.
They’re watching whether we keep going when the outcome is uncertain.
A lot of hope was lost when we weren’t able to remove this site from the Housing Element. I felt it too. Many people assumed the conversation was over.
But lately I’ve found myself thinking less about the outcome and more about what I want my daughters to learn.
I want them to learn that when something matters, you don’t quit because the path becomes difficult.
I want them to learn that open space is worth protecting.
I support building housing in Newport Beach. Our community needs housing, and I believe thoughtful development has an important role to play. But I also believe we can accommodate growth without sacrificing places like the ENC that provide habitat for wildlife, outdoor learning opportunities for children, and a meaningful connection to nature for our community.
I want them to learn that communities don’t happen by accident. Places like the ENC exist because generations of volunteers, teachers, donors, parents, and neighbors cared enough to show up.
And I want them to learn that citizenship isn’t something you talk about. It’s something you practice.
The proposed residential development adjacent to the ENC is now moving through the City’s review process. The Planning Commission will consider the project on June 18.
The Planning Commission’s decision will be an important milestone in this process, but it will not be the final word. Additional opportunities for community participation remain ahead, including a potential appeal process. What happens now will help shape what comes next.
That’s why community participation matters.
How many people attend matters.
How many comments are submitted matters.
What breaks my heart is when people assume someone else is doing the work.
I know there isn’t someone else.
The ENC is busy doing what it does best: educating children, caring for wildlife habitat, and helping people connect with nature.
The rest is up to us.
How You Can Help
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to get involved, this is it.
Bring your spouse.
Bring a friend.
Forward this article.
Tell your neighbors.
Most importantly, show up.
Planning Commission Meeting
Thursday, June 18, 2026
6:00 PM
Newport Beach City Hall
100 Civic Center Drive
Whether or not you plan to attend, please also consider sending written comments.
Showing up in person matters. Written comments matter too. They serve different purposes, and together they help demonstrate the depth of community support for the ENC.
You don’t need to be an expert or write a perfect letter. Simply sharing why the ENC matters to you, your family, or our community is enough.
Planning Commission: planningcommission@newportbeachca.gov
City Council: citycouncil@newportbeachca.gov
Please send comments to both if you can.
Kids are welcome, though the meeting may run past bedtime. If you attend with children, consider bringing separate cars so one parent can head home early if needed.
And if your kids are grown, or you don’t have children at home, we would be deeply grateful if you stayed until the end.
The ENC is about more than nature education. It’s about teaching the next generation that some places are worth protecting.
It’s one of the few places left where children can experience wonder, independence, and connection to the natural world in the middle of an increasingly developed city.
Let’s show our kids what it looks like to stand up for something we love.
Let’s show them that hope isn’t a feeling. It’s something you do.
And let’s keep showing up for the ENC, again and again, for as long as it takes.
With gratitude,
Katie Smith
ENC Parent