Los Angeles County Mayor Michael D. Antonovich, will hold a news conference announcing a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Santa Clarita and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to provide for the management and oversight of the open space dedications resulting from the Newhall Ranch and Westridge development projects. Approximately 4,350 acres of open space will be acquired and managed by the JPA. The JPA allows for the acquisition, development, improvement, management and conservation of park and open space lands dedicated for public purposes of passive and active recreation, wildlife habitat protection and conservation projects.

Speakers will include Paul Novak, Deputy, Office of Mayor Michael D. Antonovich; Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Director Russ Guiney; City of Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste; Joe Edmiston, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; Greg McWilliams, President, Newhall Land and Sherry Teresa, Center for Lands Management.

The press event is Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. on the west side of The Old Road street. There is a driveway entrance from southbound Old Road, halfway between Valencia Blvd. and McBean Parkway. Backdrop is the oak savannah of the initial 150 acres to be dedicated to the JPA. There is a dirt clearing that will accommodate parking. (Los Angeles & Orange County 2005 Thomas Guide page 4550, D6)