The Park, La Habra Heights

In 1939 Edwin G. Hart, Glen Annabel, Art Sucksdorf, Alex Morrison, and H.B. Griswold met at the Dinner Bell Restaurant on Whittier Blvd. for the purpose of reorganizing the La Habra Heights Improvement Association. An earlier organization in 1932 had become inactive. After the Dinner Bell meeting, Mr. Griswold called a general meeting at the Hacienda Golf Club to set up the object and the Constitution of the association. It read, 'To encourage and promote the development of the Heights as a rural residential area'. In the early years the association worked constantly for agricultural betterment, improved roads, and roadside planting of bougainvillea, oleander and other colorful shrubs. Thousands of trees were distributed to maintain the green belt character of the area. It worked successfully in 1949 with the Regional Planning Commission in securing RA-1 zoning (Residential Agriculture 1 acre required). The Heights Life, a quarterly publication to all Heights residents, kept the community informed of activities of special interest. Until the 1978 incorporation of the City of La Habra Heights, LHHIA represented the Heights in matters of administration, such as zoning, land division requirements, roads, safety matters and fire protection.

In 1978, LHHIA hosted the first Candidate's Night for the new city. The Heights Life is now published for 11 issues a year, instead of quarterly, and mailed to all Heights residents. The Association still offers the popular $5.00 license plate frame, La Habra Heights, Rural Country Living, which was first sold in 1978 for $2.00. The 'City of La Habra Heights' sweatshirts you see many residents wearing around town are still as popular as when LHHIA first offered them in the '70's. We are now celebrating our 18th season of Music in the Park, which debuted July 12, 1989, in the then newly constructed Park Pavilion. The pavilion was paid for with LHHIA membership dues and donations and constructed by LHHIA members, as was the 'Community Events Sign' at the Park in 1993. LHHIA funds uniform shirts for the Volunteers on Patrol. Each year the Association hosts the Easter Egg Hunt and Children's Halloween Party.

Please remember, the success of these endeavors by your Improvement Association depends upon your financial support and cooperation. Our dues were $25.00 for about 17 years and increased to $35.00 in 2006, thanks to our faithful members and the many new residents of the Heights. Let's work together to interest and unite all residents of La Habra Heights, maintain our rural environment and together be an effective influence in the welfare of our community.