Mast Park Trail Wins Statewide Award

The California Trails Conference Foundation this week announced it will honor the city of Santee with a 2011 project construction Merit Award for the Mast Park West Trail.

Karen Beth Pearlman and her dog, Chloe, enjoy a
walk along the Mast Park West trail

Since its completion in the spring of 2011, the relatively easy trail with a decomposed granite surface has become a favorite of walkers, bicyclists and joggers. It makes for a pleasant stroll through a riverfront forest, called riparian habitat, that attracts many birds and other wildlife. The experience is further enhanced by benches, views of ponds, and nature interpretive signs.

The half-mile-long trail, which crosses 43.2-acre habitat reserve along the San Diego River, was constructed between October 2010 and April 2011. The city completed the project on schedule and under budget despite an unusually wet winter and restrictions on construction to accommodate the nesting season for the least Bell’s vireo, an endangered songbird.

The city constructed the trail with funds provided by a state River Parkways (Proposition 50) grant.

The trail is an important link in the city’s plan to complete a continuous path along the 4.5 miles of the San Diego River that bisect Santee. It is also part of a proposed 52-mile-long river trail and parkway that would connect the mountains to the sea.

The award will be presented to the city on April 19 at the 2012 California Trails and Greenway Conference in Woodland Hills.

The foundation, which is based in San Juan Capistrano, promotes the development of non-motorized trails in California.  It organizes an annual conference, the California Trails Day event, and awards grants to non-profit organizations.