Small townships and rural settings like those in the Santa Ynez Valley used to have trails to connect the areas and make it easy for people to get around. As time went on, the trails in the valley became overgrown with trees and shrubs, or they intersected with private property, shifting communities to rely on cars, Joan Hartmann said.
“The lifestyle used to be you could get around easily. We don’t have many sidewalks outside the cities; the only incorporated cities [in the Santa Ynez Valley] are Buellton and Solvang,” Hartman, the Santa Barbara County 3rd District supervisor, said. “As roads have widened and more and more cars are used, there’s lost space for other ways of getting around.”
Three years ago, Santa Ynez Valley community members began asking the county to create trail restoration projects. As a result, Hartmann and the county partnered with the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade to initiate the Refugio Trail Restoration Project, an element in the Santa Ynez Community Plan to improve the local trail and provide an alternative to driving.
The project—which broke ground during a ceremony on Sept. 27—features trails connecting Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and Samantha Drive along Refugio Road, and the county secured $250,000 in funding to complete the project as part of the Safe Routes to School program, she said.
“Kids should have the opportunity to walk or bike to school. It’s crowded with cars just [to] have them drop off one or two children. Kids lose out having to be chauffeured everywhere,” Hartmann said.
Restoring this trail could also save lives, she added. During the groundbreaking ceremony, a Chumash representative brought attention to the two people who died near the area—one an adult who got hit by a car while running, and the other a 14-year-old girl who died the day before her birthday.
“We really need to reclaim this area so we can be safe,” Hartmann said.
Thus far, she noted that community members have been enthusiastic about the trail restoration, even property owners who have some of the trail on their land.
“Our Public Works Department, in particular the deputy director, went door to door with his team to talk to the landowners and talk[ed] about pulling back,” she said. “Technically it’s the county’s right of way and it’s public land. People [would] get mad at us we [if] didn’t protect this public asset.”
The Refugio Trail restoration is just the beginning for trail enhancement in the valley, Hartmann said. There are many other trail ideas for along the Santa Ynez River and along the railway up to Los Alamos, plus a wine trail and paths between Santa Ynez to Los Olivos—some of which are included in the Recreation Master Plan.
“I am passionate about trails,” Hartmann said. “I just think people are healthiest when they are out and moving. Communities are strongest when people are encountering each other. It’s almost like religion to me.”
Highlight
• Cottage Health and the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department are partnering to improve the well-being of county residents. To better understand the needs and strengths of the entire community, the collaborative is asking residents to participate in a Community Needs Health Assessment, which includes a survey of more than 2,000 households. Residents will be randomly selected to participate and receive an invitation to take the survey by mail, text, email, or phone call. Participants will receive a $5 gift card in appreciation for their time, and all responses will be confidential. The survey can be found at cottagehealth.org/communitysurvey, and it needs to be complete by Oct. 14.
• The Santa Maria Public Library is celebrating Filipino American History and encourages anyone to visit any branch to pick up a Filipino American history pack for kids ages 6 to 12. Packs include supplies to create a Filipino jeepney 3D paper craft, a yummy snack, and resources to learn about the rich history of Filipino Americans and impacts made here on the Central Coast. The library is located at 421 South McClelland St. Questions can be directed to (805) 925-0994, Ext. 8564.
Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor wrote this week’s Spotlight. Reach her at [email protected].
