Comments on: Who Filled In Mussel Slough? https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2015/06/18/who-filled-in-mussel-slough/ In-depth, locally-produced coverage of the Central Valley. Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:43:55 -0700 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Donnie Burnett https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2015/06/18/who-filled-in-mussel-slough/#comment-1547 Donnie Burnett Sat, 04 Jul 2015 02:17:26 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=18567#comment-1547 I was born and raised in Hanford. The changes in priorities are due to people who don't want to get involved. A little bit at a time master manipulator have convinced us that their ideas keeps up with the times. We don't take in the fact of the impacts on the area years down the road.We can still change things. It won't be over night. We will have to put in the work, like getting involved by staying informed. Our community is our responsibility. I was born and raised in Hanford. The changes in priorities are due to people who don’t want to get involved. A little bit at a time master manipulator have convinced us that their ideas keeps up with the times. We don’t take in the fact of the impacts on the area years down the road.We can still change things. It won’t be over night. We will have to put in the work, like getting involved by staying informed. Our community is our responsibility.

]]> By: Tom Bracken https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2015/06/18/who-filled-in-mussel-slough/#comment-1506 Tom Bracken Fri, 19 Jun 2015 17:43:41 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=18567#comment-1506 I've never understood why John Zumwalt was allowed to sit on both sides of the table in these matters. It's a huge conflict of interest. I recall when Kaufman and Broad came to town in the 90's to build the development just west of the 43/10th Ave interchange. K & B was supposed to incorporate a park into their development. They wanted the park area for more lots to build and make more money. They proposed that kids could use the small park area at the interchange, a dangerous proposition with cars zooming along at 55mph just feet away. The pass-through from the K & B subdivision to the park was fenced off for safety when the subdivision was originally laid out and the block wall was built. Zumwalt's firm argued strenuously for the change, and Zumwalt, sitting on behalf of the planning commission, voted for the allowance. Marcie Buford jumped on board as well. It passed, so there would be no park within the subdivision. The pass-through to the "park" along 43 was never opened, and it and remains closed to this day, 20 years later. Unfortunately, with people like Zumwalt making the calls, Hanford will never resemble Visalia and its open spaces. A real shame for such a nice town. I’ve never understood why John Zumwalt was allowed to sit on both sides of the table in these matters. It’s a huge conflict of interest.

I recall when Kaufman and Broad came to town in the 90’s to build the development just west of the 43/10th Ave interchange. K & B was supposed to incorporate a park into their development. They wanted the park area for more lots to build and make more money. They proposed that kids could use the small park area at the interchange, a dangerous proposition with cars zooming along at 55mph just feet away. The pass-through from the K & B subdivision to the park was fenced off for safety when the subdivision was originally laid out and the block wall was built.

Zumwalt’s firm argued strenuously for the change, and Zumwalt, sitting on behalf of the planning commission, voted for the allowance. Marcie Buford jumped on board as well. It passed, so there would be no park within the subdivision. The pass-through to the “park” along 43 was never opened, and it and remains closed to this day, 20 years later.

Unfortunately, with people like Zumwalt making the calls, Hanford will never resemble Visalia and its open spaces. A real shame for such a nice town.

]]> By: Joseph Oldenbourg https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2015/06/18/who-filled-in-mussel-slough/#comment-1502 Joseph Oldenbourg Thu, 18 Jun 2015 21:05:02 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=18567#comment-1502 In reply to <a href="https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2015/06/18/who-filled-in-mussel-slough/#comment-1501">Dan Larkin</a>. Thank you. The author only belatedly realized this, and we will be issuing a correction. In reply to Dan Larkin.

Thank you. The author only belatedly realized this, and we will be issuing a correction.

]]> By: Dan Larkin https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2015/06/18/who-filled-in-mussel-slough/#comment-1501 Dan Larkin Thu, 18 Jun 2015 19:53:05 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=18567#comment-1501 It's "Hidden Valley Park" not "Happy Valley". It’s “Hidden Valley Park” not “Happy Valley”.

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