Page 10 - 2011

Whittier Narrows, located in the City of South El Monte features a variety of facilities, spread over 1,492 acres and are one of Los Angeles County’s largest and most popular recreation areas. The park is located on both sides of the Pomona Freeway at Rosemead Boulevard and Santa Anita Avenue.

Legg Lake and North Legg Lake are two of four bodies of water within the 400-acre Whittier Narrows Natural Area Park. The park was run by the Audubon Society from 1939 until 1970, when it was purchased by the Los Angeles County of Parks and Recreation. Model boaters have been using Legg Lake for over 40 years. The first model boaters to run boats at Legg Lake were in the 1950’s and 1960’s. If you glance at the exit of turn two of the heat racing course, in the corner and next to the jogging path, that is where the model boaters used to run their tether boats.

Model boaters began to race in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s near the parking lot on Durfee Street. This is where the straightaway records are set each year and the new fishing dock has just been built. This was at a time before the Model Boat Drivers Stand was a thought in a model boater’s imagination.

In 1988 several model boaters, model boat vendors, and sponsors formed a Legg Lake committee, and were instrumental in the planning and design of the model boat drivers stand. Some committee members were Terry and Al Prather of Prather Products Inc., John Brodbeck of K&B Manufacturing, Don Donikowski, Futaba Corporation, and J & R Radio. All of these people came together to discuss the idea of building a permanent drivers stand at Legg Lake. In April of 1989 after much discussion and enthusiasm, by the parks department and model boaters alike, the parks department officials at Legg Lake approved the plan. The parks department was so pleased they also approved the plans to make permanent restrooms for the model boaters, this to coincide with the building of the drivers stand. The approximate cost in 1989 for the Model Boat Drivers Stand was $14,000 to complete the project.

Don Donikowski, one of the Legg Lake committee members was also instrumental in working with the parks department, Edison Company, and U.S. Army Core of Engineers, to provide the model boaters with a parking area. After many meetings, phone calls and planning, the Army Core of Engineers agreed to provide the model boaters the right to use and park on the Edison easeway. This also included letting the Legg Lake committee build a permanent gate at the entrance of Rosemead and access to the Model Boat entrance to the park. These are the gates you will be using at the 2011 NAMBA Nationals.

Many model boaters spent their hard earned money to partake in several fund raising programs and “many great prizes were raffled and donated” so that the Model Boat Drivers Stand could become a reality, a place to use and enjoy for years to come!