|
(Photo above left) The Cermonial Ribbon was cut and the Bike Path officially opened. Left to right cutting the ribbon are: Mike Zielsdorf (Pacific Coast Land Design), Lucy Blanco (Public Works), Brian Yazez, Councilman Rick Cook, former VCTC Exec. Director Ginger Gherardi, Councilmen Fred Robinson, Jim Tovias, Mayor Bob Gonzales, Supervisor Kathy Long, VCTC Exec. Director Darren Kettle, Kay Leggett on recumbent bicycle. (Above right) Mayor Bob Gonzales welcomed the crowd that included Councilmen Rick Cook, Fred Robinson and Jim Tovias, VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle and former Mayors Carl Barringer, Don Johnson and Ray Luna. Mayor Gonzales talked about the timeline for the construction of the Bike Trail from 12th Street to Peck Road. |
It’s official: New Santa Paula Branch Line Recreational Path opens
February 29, 2012
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Elected and other officials as well as bicyclists and walkers celebrated the completion of the Santa Paula Branch Line Recreation Trail, a road that for months already has been much traveled by outdoor enthusiasts. The ribbon cutting Thursday was held at Mill Plaza outside the Ventura County Agricultural Museum, where Kay and Wayne Leggett were ready to roll on their recumbent bicycles.
It was not the first visit for the Oxnard residents and members of the Ventura County Recumbent Riders (www.VCRR.org): “We’ve done it before,” said Kay. “It’s free, open and easy... and it will bring Santa Paula more into the community” of outdoor lovers.
The main thing, noted Wayne, “is it’s here.... We have a granddaughter, Yma, that lives here in Santa Paula and it’s a safe place for her to ride.”
Bob Muschitz of Santa Paula was there with his circa 1960 Schwinn bicycle. “I own about ten bikes,” and the Schwinn, he noted, “is a grocery hauler. And I’ve been riding here since before it was even a trail.”
“Good things take time,” said Supervisor Kathy Long, referring to the project that was first explored in the mid-1990s. “And in this case good things come in big packages,” in the trail’s case more than two miles of path.
Santa Paula is “becoming such a walk-able town,” and use of the trail - whether walking, biking or running - will also help one keep healthy. “You can’t beat that!” said Long.
Ginger Gherardi of Santa Paula, the retired executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), which secured much of the funding and worked with the city to create the trail, said Santa Paula’s retired public works director Norm Wilkinson deserves much credit. “I’m really glad it’s finally done and I thank Norm... he did the original applications and then after he was retired came back to work with the city for awhile to help get it finished.”
Wilkinson said he was pleased at the path’s completion: “It was a long time coming but worth the wait... and I’m really pleased at the way it came out.”
Mayor Bob Gonzales welcomed the crowd that included Councilmen Rick Cook, Fred Robinson and Jim Tovias, VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle and former Mayors Carl Barringer, Don Johnson and Ray Luna.
The project cost about $4.1 million, “fortunately for the city not our money,” but primarily grant funding. The trail runs east and west between Peck Road and 12th Street, a route that “connects the entire community” and will further involve community with upkeep provided by volunteers from America In Bloom.
The path is lit, paved, and the Mill Plaza has a handful of oversized signs pointing out places of interest as well as other highlights of Santa Paula’s history and culture. “There’s a place for people to lock up their bikes so they can enjoy the Mill, the downtown, and visit our museums.”
Gonzales said there are many to thank, especially as the project has been in the works for about a dozen years, including Interim Public Works Director Brian Yanez and staff and especially Vice Mayor Ralph Fernandez who was unable to attend the ceremony. Fernandez served on the trail’s ad hoc committee and successfully sought additional funding to replace about $1.1 million in design elements lost to rising costs.
Gonzales said the monies will provide the awning-covered resting place for trail users, who will also enjoy the misting mechanism built into the faux creek. Of the now total $5.2-million project, Gonzales said the city’s contribution was “less than $500,000.”
Also attending the ribbon cutting were Ventura County Museum Executive Director Tim Schiffer and Kevin Genovese, assistant director of the Agriculture Museum in the former Mill, which fronts Mill Plaza on the south side of Railroad Avenue.
