BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The neighborhood park in Derby Acres is set to be shut down at the end of this calendar year, due to state regulations. However, many of the small town’s residents do not agree with the regulation and are left frustrated by this decision.
As of 2022, new oil drilling is prohibited within 3,200 feet of residential areas. In efforts to prevent any harmful health effects and enforce pollution control.
Berry Petroleum Company LLC leases the land at Derby Acres Park. This week, the company informed the Kern County Board of Supervisors the park would be shutting down.
“I’m baffled by the whole thing,” said Lynn Morris, Derby Acres resident since 1977, “It’s sad that oil fields or environmental regulations are taking away people’s livelihood.”
Although the restriction is to protect the health and safety of community members, Morris isn’t convinced.
For she said the job of an oil field worker already poses harmful risks.
“We’re the ones working in the oil fields in our community,” Morris said, “The health is the same for our husbands and wives and daughters and sons that work in the oil fields.”
Eyewitness News spoke to other residents who did not want to be on camera. Similar to Morris, these residents did not agree with the regulation.
They also said they’ve witnessed the shutdowns of multiple neighborhood establishments such as the town cafe. Therefore, they say the closing of the park was unsurprising.
“I just don’t see it being practical or benefiting my children for a better life,” said Morris, “We like the rural life here. That’s why we’re here. We don’t want to move to a city.”
Read More: Derby Acres residents oppose park shutdown due to new state oil drilling laws