CLIPBOARD

Michael Jackson and Bubbles may be an amusing pair, but the gloved one and his simian sidekick are about 50 years too late to be a novelty.

It’s been done before.

Joseph Edward Prentice was a man who made a fortune in real estate during the Depression, amassing foreclosure properties or lending money to the unfortunately overextended. He was also a man who was known for his austere demeanor, his astute business sense, and for being a natty dresser. He was also known to walk around town with a monkey riding high on his shoulder.

Prentice had a passion for primates.

So much so that in 1949 he donated 12 acres of his 24-acre estate to the city of Santa Ana. The donation, however, was contingent on the city agreeing to develop the property into a park and zoo that would be named after him, and that the facilities would always house at least 50 monkeys.

Enter Jack Lynch. He was a local who grew up in the Saddleback View neighborhood during the 1930s, when walnut trees and orange groves outnumbered people and when there were still plenty of places for little boys to have big adventures.

Lynch had a penchant for creatures that dated back to his childhood.

“My mother used to read books to me about animals and that stimulated my interest,” Lynch said. “Plus, living near the walnut grove, I used to find baby birds and things and I would bring them home and take care of them.”

So when Lynch read in the newspapers about Prentice’s donation of land to the city and about a zoo being built in the neighborhood, he wasted no time contacting the the city’s parks superintendent, who had already heard of Lynch and his talent with animals.

But because of the advent of the Korean War and Lynch’s military obligations, it would be two years before he would begin his duties as the first keeper at the Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park.

Lynch remained with the zoo until his retirement in 1988 and managed to weather several storms that erupted between Prentice and the city over the development of the zoo. Prentice had envisioned a zoo that featured the animals in their natural habitat, and the city wanted to maintain the zoo at the minimum levels outlined in the deed.

Actually Lynch agreed with Prentice’s ideas for the development of the zoo, but it did not seem to faze the disgruntled benefactor.

“I was a city employee and I guess he equated me with city government,” Lynch said. “But I wasn’t involved with politics. I just wanted to take care of the animals.”

But time heals all wounds, and Prentice is being vindicated--even if it is posthumously. The city recently announced plans to renovate the zoo to the tune of $10 million. And the new master plan includes lush environments zoned by climate and furnished with native vegetation.

But Saddleback View is not just a neighborhood about animals. It is a neighborhood that has seen several transitions from the days Lynch cavorted through abundant orange groves in the 1930s. In the 1950s, those groves made room for housing; and in the late 1970s, as populations shifted, the area evolved into the predominately Latino neighborhood it is today.

And while there are no more orchards or groves for generations of children to explore, there are parks such as Logan Park on Custer Street, which manage to fill in the gaps.

Compared to Prentice Park at the other end of the neighborhood, Logan Park is modest. But it is reflective of the surrounding homes and paychecks that cannot accommodate a lot of frills.

The grass is not exactly golf course quality, but it provides soft running-around room for children who have just gotten out of school but whose working parents are not home yet.

The recreation room is far from a country club atmosphere, but its walls are home to proudly- displayed “A” papers and novice artwork. It is a place for the youths to gather and talk and play and build self-esteem. And it is a place that recreation leader Sally Alcaraz holds dear.

“I grew up in that house across the street there,” she said. “I like this neighborhood; you know everybody. I like working with kids and I like helping people.”

She dispenses groceries and clothes to people in the area who are temporarily in need of supplies. She presses toy stores for donations at Christmas and Halloween. She baby-sits, teaches English and listens to the hopes and dreams, frustrations and fears of any and all children who want to share a moment with her.

She also is looking for someone to donate a microwave, a color television and a VCR to the center.

Alcaraz, along with co-leader Ruben Contreras, organizes sporting and social events for the children. At least three times a month there is a barbecue for the neighborhood--usually personally financed by the two recreation leaders. The charge to the kids for all the hot dogs, chips and sodas they can consume? One dime.

“This is a neighborhood of low-income families,” Alcaraz said. “What we need we can take care of. We can do it on our own. Ruben and I figure the kids deserve it. And just seeing the smile on the kids faces--that’s what counts.”

Population Total: (1990 est.) 8,232 1980-90 change: +17.9% Median Age: 25.4

Racial/ethnic mix: White (non-Latino): 10% Latino: 86% Black: 1% Other: 3%

By sex and age: MALES Median age: 25.1 years FEMALES Median age: 25.8 years

Income Per capita: $8,998 Median household: $29,246 Average household: $31,558

Income Distribution: Less than $25,000: 41% $25,000-49,999: 39% $50,000-74,999: 16% $75,000-$99,999: 3% $100,000 and more: 1%