Excerpt:

For the first time since the Naval Air Station closed in 1997, a feasible plan has emerged for creating and managing parkland and a bona fide wildlife refuge on the 770-acre runway area at Alameda Point ("East Bay Park District Spearheads Point Deal for NW Territories," March 8).

At its June 6 meeting city council discussed the disposition strategy for the Point and environmentalists spoke out on two issues concerning the Point's open space plans.

Two things stand in the way. The city is delaying the effort by requesting money from the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) for land the city is getting for free. The Navy plans to deny public access to a section of the wildlife refuge and scenic open space by erecting a six-foot-high chain-link fence topped with barbed wire around 110 acres on the refuge shoreline.