Citizens alliance supports secluded trail

In May, on the 27th, the California Coastal Conservancy gave out $200,000 to the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, an alliance member, to look over the area and design a trail connection between the lower watershed trail at the north of Mission Bay Park and the upland communities, such as La Jolla, Mira Mesa, and University City. The watershed covers 23,427 acres, out to Poway.

 

The coalition has the help of the volunteers with the Friends of Rose Park, headed by Debby Knight, and the Marian Bear Natural Park Recreation Council, a Parks & Recreation board named after model conservation leader Marian Bear, an actress from Clairemont and long time civic activist given credit for convincing the city run by Mayor Pete Wilson to lay aside a Highway 52 path through the San Clemente creek bed and move it to the north hillside. “We must protect, preserve and restore our canyons – they don't make them anymore!” Bear used to say.

 

For now, bikers and walkers stray from the safe area, crossing railroad tracks and roads, to show up at the path's end. An illegal railroad crossing is used regularly. Unsafe crossings happen daily.

 

No clear paths go under I-5 and Highway 52.

 

Doubts about readiness for crossing each rough patch in the way, one by one, safely and on time, keep many residents from using the canyon paths for a commute to work and recreation.

 

The planned multi-use trail is surrounded by flourishing plants and resourceful animals. Southern chaparrals on the slopes, and the often seen raccoons and cottontail rabbits. Mule deer occasionally reveal their beauty amidst the foliage.

 

Three track crossings and two crossings under overpasses make the travel lines clear. Without overstepping any bounds, a biker, or a walker, has easy entry and exit to the canyons, Rose, San Clemente, and the tributaries, Stevenson being the closest large one. 

 

The south-north tour, from the Mission Bay and surrounding communities to the Golden Triangle, no roads or sorry sights, will happen. In the triangle, jobs are found for 100,000 local workers at 4,000 workplaces. From Damon Street, along the creek, the mid-coast path goes through.

 

The Rose Creek path will, eventually, connect to a 40 mile Coastal Rail Trail--a commuter's dream for turning every corner from downtown San Diego to Oceanside.