Aspiring Eagle Scouts Spruce Up Mast Park



A key pedestrian corridor linking the two halves of Mast Park has been made more user friendly and attractive, thanks to the efforts of two Eagle Scout candidates from La Mesa Troop 51.

One of the finished mural panels under Carlton Hills Blvd.

The sandy footpath under the Carlton Hills Blvd. bridge used to be a grungy and uninviting route for folks crossing between Mast Park and a recently completed nature trail along the park’s western half. Not anymore.

Today, the underpass trail passes by a colorful mural depicting nature scenes that echo the park’s location along the San Diego River. Also, a new foot bridge crosses a dirt channel that used to be a barrier for some hikers, especially when it contained storm water.  Both improvements are the result of civic-minded Boy Scouts and the organizing talents of Sue Richardson, Santee’s Recreation Services Manager and committee member with Troop 51.

 

Chance Kawar, an aspiring Eagle Scout, orchestrated the mural project that transformed the concrete bridge supports underneath Carlton Hills Blvd.



Kawar solicited donations of paint and supplies from area businesses and recruited fellow scouts and volunteers from the Friends of Santee's River Park to help with the painting. The mural was conceived and sketched by El Cajon artist Thom Guerra.


Earlier in August, Life Scout Ryan Widiaja, who is also working towards the Eagle rank, gathered donations and organized a construction crew comprised of fellow scouts to build a foot bridge that connects to the nature trail at Mast Park West.



Earlier this year, scouts from Troop 51 installed information kiosks at Mast and Town Center Community Parks and San Diego River Trail markers throughout Mast Park. Additional projects are planned for the future.

 

Scouts from Troop and Pack 51. (Photo courtesy of Jay Renard)





Ryan Widjaja (center) and other
scouts from Troop 51
working on the foot bridge.
(Photo courtesy of Rob Hawk)











Carlton Hills Blvd. underpass before the project.



 

New Trail Dedicated at Mast Park West

Nearly 40 people turned out May 11 for a ceremony dedicating a newly completed half-mile section of the San Diego River Trail at Mast Park West.

Mike Nelson of the San Diego River Conservancy celebrated Santee's partnerships that made the trail possible.

Many stayed after the ceremony for a guided walk led by Shannon Quigley, (center, in white) program coordinator for the San Diego River Park Foundation. Ms. Quigley gave an animated talk about the flora and fauna found along the path, which bisects a 43-acre habitat preserve the city obtained in 2009 from The Environmental Trust.

The trail, which cost $405,586 to construct and took six months to complete, was funded by a state grant obtained on behalf of Santee by the San Diego River Conservancy, a state agency.

The new trail connects with about 2.5 miles of existing riverfront paths in Santee.

Pedestrians and bicyclists can now travel along the San Diego River from the city’s western boundary at Carlton Oaks golf course to the center of the city at Town Center Community Park.



Four new interpretive signs provide
information about the River's natural habitat.



Jordan Richardson of Troop 51 displayed
one of the markers along the trail.
The medallions were donated by the
San Diego River Park Foundation
and were installed as part of
Richardson's Eagle Scout project.