Ann Christoph

I have lived in South Laguna since 1971 when Fred Lang hired me to work on the South Laguna General Plan which he was donating to the community. Since then I have been involved in implementing the plan which provided for preserving the hillsides behind the community in open space, planning for local parks and playgrounds, and protecting South Laguna’s neighborhoods.  As a result most of the hillsides behind us are permanently preserved as part of Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.

As a landscape architect, I am especially impressed with the very rare combination of plants that we have on our hillsides--have you noticed that we are one of the few areas in town that is blessed with the white winter bloom of the big-pod Ceanothus blanketing our hillsides? (see photo below) This is just one of the many rare and interesting plants in our hillsides, and just one of the reasons why these hillsides merit preservation in addition to their scenic beauty.

My work with the South Laguna Civic Association is oriented to preserving the village character of our community, and in that regard I worked on the South Laguna Specific Plan developing unique development standards for the different neighborhoods in South Laguna, and on a landscape master plan for beautification of the community.

South Laguna Village Green was the first children’s playground in South Laguna.  I worked with People for Parks and SLCA in the early 1970s to convince the County that a neighborhood play area was needed.  After petition drives and many trips to Santa Ana, the Supervisors voted $80,000 to acquire the three lots that make up the park.  If it hadn't been for the involvement of concerned South Lagunans, there would be houses where the park is now.  I helped design the park in 1977, then 27 years later I designed it again when it was refurbished, this time for the City of Laguna Beach.

South Laguna was annexed to the City of Laguna Beach in 1987 and in 1990 I became the first South Lagunan to be elected to the Laguna Beach City Council and In 1994 the first South Lagunan to serve as mayor of Laguna Beach.

In 2009 we started my favorite South Laguna project, the South Laguna Community Garden Park. Read more about that in the Garden Park pages of this website.  

We are also writing a History of South Laguna.  We have uncovered many never-before-published photos and historical tales.  We need your help!  If you are interested in helping us research, or if you have any old photographs or materials about South Laguna's earlier days, please contact me.