Memorial for Hermosa activist Herriott Saturday, June 7, at the park he helped save

by Kevin Cody

A celebration of life for Hermosa Beach activist Parker Herriott will be held Saturday, June 7, at 1 p.m. in Noble Park. Herriott was instrumental in blocking the beachfront park from being sold by the city to a hotel developer. 

Noble Park is at 14th Street and The Strand.

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Herriott led the fight against six City Council-supported general election ballot measures, asking voters to approve development on city-owned property. The 1983 ballot measure called for a 75-foot-high, 175-room hotel. Finally, in 1992, Parker helped qualify a voter initiative to make the former Biltmore Hotel site a park. It passed overwhelmingly, 6,772 to 4,106. 

A condition of the initiative was that no structures could be built on the property. Herriott argued the restriction included park benches, though the city now allows them.

Noble Park, named after developer Joe Noble, who made a significant contribution to the park after the open space ballot measure was approved. ER