Carmel, Calif. — The Big Sur Land Trust announced today that construction of a new pedestrian and bicycle trail from Rio Road south to the Carmel River will begin this month. The Land Trust secured a grant from the California Resources Agency River Parkways Program to fund design and construction of the quarter-mile long trail on State parkland located parallel to and east of Highway One. The walking and biking path will connect with another trail to be constructed this spring and summer by the Transportation Agency of Monterey County (TAMC). The TAMC trail segment will run from Rio Road north to Carmel Valley Road and include a lighted underpass beneath Carmel Valley Road. Both trail segments are part of a larger regional public trails network included in the Carmel River Parkway, a community-based vision plan developed in 2005 that includes trails, river restoration activities and educational outreach.

“Construction of these trail segments represents another important step in implementing the community’s vision for the Carmel River Parkway,” said Bill Leahy, executive director of The Big Sur Land Trust. “The trails will convert an existing underutilized area into an attractive recreational amenity that can be enjoyed by the community at large. The project will help connect local neighborhoods with local shopping and recreation at the mouth of Carmel Valley, encourage alternative non-automotive transportation by providing a safe walking and biking route, and provide a link to future trails that will bring people in closer connection with the Carmel River. ”

The Big Sur Land Trust selected Granite Construction to build the 0.25-mile trail segment from Rio Road south to the Carmel River at a cost of $257,590. Once constructed, the paved path will be 8-feet wide with a 2-foot shoulder of aggregate base on one side of the trail and a 4-foot shoulder on the opposite side. There will be a 6-foot wide looped decomposed granite trail at the southern end of the project site. The project will include native landscaping, a trailside picnic area with 2 benches, 2 picnic tables, a bicycle rack, trash and recycling containers, and a dog mitt dispenser. Weather permitting, construction on this segment will begin this month and be completed in May. The site will be made available for the Big Sur Marathon’s preparations and clean-up and for the scheduled April 25 race. Once both trail segments are completed they will provide residents and visitors with a readily accessible alternative route to bike or walk at the mouth of Carmel Valley, and students from Carmel High School and residents utilizing the existing dirt service road through Hatton Canyon will have safe access to local businesses.

The Carmel River Parkway Vision Plan, completed in fall 2005, was developed through a cooperative effort of over 20 agencies and organizations and over 200 community members. The Vision Plan involves three main components: trails, education and restoration. A network of public trails is envisioned to provide safe access and connection to existing public parklands, such as Palo Corona Regional Park, and to other trails, offering residents and visitors new paths to help link schools, shopping centers, businesses and parklands in a “walkable town” that will also reduce highway traffic. Educational opportunities and facilities that serve as connection points for learning more about the river and the communities of Carmel Valley are also a key component, as are efforts to help restore the natural function of the river, protect and revive river habitats, restore natural floodplains, and replant trees and other native plants. For example, the Land Trust is restoring the 32-acre Moo Land property adjacent to Garland Park that it purchased in 2006 as another critical link in the Parkway, and is also currently overseeing a Lower Carmel River Floodplain Restoration Project on the Land Trust’s Odello East property that will help restore the natural floodplain at the mouth of the river, increasing wetlands and reducing the danger of flooding for nearby businesses and neighborhoods. Most recently, the Land Trust completed a land acquisition deal just west of Rancho San Carlos Road and Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley that included a conservation easement protecting approximately 10 acres of important Carmel River habitat, the purchase of a 3-acre property for future use as a river education center, and an approximately 2-mile long public trail.

Founded in 1978, the mission of The Big Sur Land Trust is to conserve the significant lands and waters of California’s Central Coast for all generations. In collaboration with partners and the community, BSLT has protected more than 30,000 acres of land since its inception. The Land Trust is committed to pursuing land and water conservation work that strengthens our communities and inspires a stewardship ethic so that Monterey County can maintain its unique and special place in the world. The goal and commitment of the Land Trust is to pursue resource conservation that supports the well-being of land and people and sustains our region’s unique quality of life for us all. For more information visit www.bigsurlandtrust.org