By William Yragui
Fremont was recently ranked seventh-greenest city in the US. In response, a city of Fremont staffer stated: “We’ve scored pretty high on green-cities ratings in the past. Part of that is we have a very high percentage of parkland compared to other cities… We have a population that’s supportive of making Fremont a green and healthy place to live.”
The Sierra Club wants to expand access to southern Alameda County’s parklands. One way to do that is to encourage the development of more multi-use trails known as “linear parks,” used by cyclists and pedestrians. There are many promising sites for new trails in Southern Alameda County.
Currently, work moves ahead on the Niles Canyon and East Bay Greenway trails, but it will be many years and many miles before they’re fully completed. The Niles Canyon trail project, which will one day connect Niles and Sunol, is still in the first of three phases. The East Bay Greenway trail will eventually connect seven BART stations from Lake Merritt to South Hayward.
Meanwhile, a new trail has become possible on Morrison Canyon Road in the hills outside Fremont. Last month, the Fremont city council voted to temporarily close a mile-long portion of Morrison Canyon Road to cars due to safety concerns. This road was documented by two Vargas Plateau residents as “narrow, dangerous and substandard” in a 2008 lawsuit. Just nine feet wide in some areas, with two-way traffic allowed, Morrison Canyon Road is a threat to public safety and a liability for the city.
Take away the cars, though, and Morrison Canyon Road would be perfect as a trail for those wanting to walk or bike on a tree-shrouded lane. As a trail, it would offer improved access to both Vargas Plateau Regional Park and the new East Bay Greenway trail.
In other southern Alameda County park news, the East Bay Regional Park District recently announced that they have settled a lawsuit filed by neighbors attempting to stop expansion of a new parking lot inside Mission Peak Regional Preserve. This news will be welcomed by the thousands of park visitors who have been fined over $200,000 over the last several years for parking on nearby streets.
The resolution of this lawsuit may have another benefit: longer park hours. The Park District had limited park hours due to visitors’ cars overflowing into residential neighborhoods. We expect park hours to return to the original hours of operation in effect from 1978 to 2014. Finally, the public will have unfettered access to Mission Peak Regional Preserve. Watching the sun rise from the summit may again become a spiritual experience for many park visitors.
The Sierra Club is dedicated to fostering transformational experiences in the outdoors that inspires people to protect our natural spaces. We continue to work to provide opportunities for all citizens to connect with nature, in order to improve their mental and physical health. We are committed to an even greener southern Alameda County.
Photo: "Stroll and Roll" event on Niles Canyon Road, courtesy www.84strollroll.com