Huntington Beach Butterfly Park Has Monarch Magic
Norma Brandel
Gibbs Park Sims Grove
Prior to being designated as Norma Brandel Gibbs Park,
this site was known as Sims Grove. The park is dedicated
to the first settlers who established homes and farms on
the Bolsa, including prominent people in Orange County
political and agricultural life such as Grahams, Heils,
Kettlers, Slaters and Moores. They raised lima beans on
the fields around the grove and served the county as
legislators and agri-businessmen. This grove was planted
by Charles Graham, an original settler around the turn
of the century (20th), because he needed wood for
building. When the wood proved unusable for
construction, he used it for firewood. Since that time,
generations of children have grown up playing here, the
last rural spot in a maturing city.
Sims Grove is a place to
sit and reflect amongst the thick eucalyptus groves that
provide shade all day long. A stroll through the grove
leads to the new Sims Park situated in the Summerlane
tract of homes. This region was once a small airport
called Meadowlark Airport. It now includes the park and
the residential area.
Norma Brandel Gibbs Huntington Beach City Council
1970-1978
Mayor 1975-1976
A political pioneer, Norma Brandel Gibbs served
Huntington Beach as its first woman Councilmember and
Mayor. She is a dynamic and visionary leader who
contributes unselfishly to improving the quality of life
for all living beings. Her deep commitment to helping
individuals and communities realize their potential is
evident in her career as a professor and in her
community work.
Her legacy include impacting the lives of thousand of
students, the development of Huntington Central Park and
neighborhood parks, bicycle paths, beach and wetlands
preservation, and the Sister City program. She was also
instrumental in the development of the Huntington Beach
Library and Cultural Center, and the found of Interval
House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence.
Norma Brandel Gibbs' love of life permeates her love of
teaching and the raising of her four children. It is
fitting that this park, home to butterflies and people
of all ages, is dedicated to this warm, inspiring leader
who holds as her motto:
You can fly
But that cocoon has to go.
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