Laguna Greenbelt, Incorporated (LGI) is an active non-profit organization founded in 1968 to preserve the open space bordering the City of Laguna Beach, California and comprising Sycamore Hills and five canyons: Aliso, Wood, El Toro, Laguna and Morro. LGI has worked both with and against local governments and private corporations in order to minimize land development of the designated greenbelt. The records include correspondence, legal papers, organizational publications, printed items, environmental impact reports, visual materials and minutes which document the origins and evolution of LGI in its first twenty years. The collection chronicles activities and evolving philosophies of LGI and its members, and it illustrates aspects of Orange County social and political history.

This is a brief introduction to the organization and its early years. It is based on information in the records and an unpublished description written by Joanna Brand. Laguna Greenbelt, Incorporated (LGI) is a nonprofit environmental organization, founded in 1968 and incorporated in 1970. LGI's projects and strategic goals revolve around the environs of Laguna Beach, California. The organization seeks to preserve 10,000 acres of land for a greenbelt around the city. A greenbelt entails land set aside for agriculture, recreational parks or reserved open space and specifically excludes commercial development. LGI defines Laguna Greenbelt as Sycamore Hills, a land parcel vegetated with mature sycamore trees, and five canyons: Aliso, El Toro, Laguna, Morro and Wood. LGI has initiated and participated in local, regional and state-wide preservation efforts. Working both with and against municipal governments and commercial enterprises, it has promoted and opposed myriad projects affecting the environment. This chronology of events relating to LGI and its activities is based on local and regional newspaper clippings within the collection and is not intended to be either definitive or comprehensive.

10.8 Linear feet (27 boxes and 2 oversize folders) and 37.2 unprocessed linear feet

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