Visionaries see a park running from Hollister to San Juan along
the San Benito River
Take a leisurely walk along the San Benito River these days and
you won’t find a welcoming environment. Discarded shopping carts,
graffiti-etched bridge embankments, the charred remains of
abandoned vehicles and discarded trash litter the dried bed.
Visionaries see a park running from Hollister to San Juan along the San Benito River
Take a leisurely walk along the San Benito River these days and you won’t find a welcoming environment. Discarded shopping carts, graffiti-etched bridge embankments, the charred remains of abandoned vehicles and discarded trash litter the dried bed.
Close your eyes. Imagine the same river setting but with a landscaped park adorning the length of the river. Running through the park are walking trails and bicycle paths, horse trails, picnic areas and groomed vegetation.
Already the river provides tantalizing potential.
Walking along the riverbeds that currently exist there is a cornucopia of vegetation including tree tobacco, Arizona cypress trees, Scarlet pimpernel, and wild tarragon and sage – those last two may make you want to go home and roast a chicken.
People who look hard enough can even find Scarlet monkeyflower, which is somewhat rare to this area.
While the river offers smells and colors that provide a break from the exhaust fumes and drabness of city life, it can also provide a symphony of birdsong to soothe the burnout of the work week.
Beautiful birds, some of the more interesting species include the black-headed grosbeak, the lazuli bunting, the greater roadrunner and the American bittern can all be found along the San Benito River. As well as a host of shorebirds, migrating waterfowl and easily a dozen species of raptors that include red-tail hawks, kites and kestrels all making the river bed their personal hunting grounds.
The beds of the river are currently dry and arid and are perfectly suited for amphibians and reptiles such as the California red-legged frog, the western pond turtle and several varieties of snakes. Larger mammals such as deer and raccoons can be observed later into the evenings as they use the riparian habitat for collecting food.
The desert jackrabbits and desert cottontails especially enjoy the dry scrub vegetation while the coyotes and gray foxes enjoy hunting those same rabbits in the area.
This wildlife and scenic respite could rival other neighboring urban park areas, such as the Uvas Creek Reserve in Gilroy and the Coyote Creek Trail that runs from Morgan Hill to San Jose.
On any given weekend in Gilroy, joggers, walkers and bicyclists can be seen atop the paved levee that protects homes from the seasonal swelling of Uvas Creek. On the creek side of the levee, dogs of all shapes and sizes scurry about capturing the scents of wild animals that come to water at the creek, while birdwatchers spy graceful egrets and herons standing in shimmering ripples of the creek.
That same natural ambiance could someday provide needed respite for Hollister residents.
Officials from the city of Hollister and the county recently met with local residents in a first effort to make this imaginary scenario a reality.
City and county planners are developing concepts for the linear park so that they can apply for funding grants.
The idea for the project dates back several years and money had even been previously put aside for funding, but there are several constraints that have always been a deterrent including ownership of the land.
The city of Hollister is currently working on a plan to purchase roughly four acres along Apricot Lane. The thought is that the city would acquire the first 4 ½ acres and then the county would, over time, acquire an additional 400 acres along the river to continue the concept. The plan would be to eventually have the park span the lengths of the county from Bolado Park all the way to San Juan Bautista.
“There are a number of possible uses that could be incorporated into the project including school lab projects, community gardens, horse trails, fitness trails, and amphitheaters,” said Jerry Lo, director of public works and parks for San Benito County.
Fortunately the city and county are starting to think about these concepts early, said Jim West, a Granite Rock employee and citizen who was at the recent meeting. He said that he’s been in favor of the project since the start.
“Nobody thinks of open space until after they need it. The county owns the river land and it’s a tremendous resource. Look at Coyote Creek, it’s a beautiful area,” West said.
One of the people that seemed really excited at the possibilities that exist for educational benefits is San Benito County Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley. He was thrilled at the idea of using the river for outdoor education projects and science facilities.
“I would like to emphatically endorse the idea of science labs,” Foley said. “We would be active partners in the development of this resource; sign us up.”
Lo moved to San Benito County from Sacramento and said that he was inspired by the river walk park that the city has on display, especially the opportunities it provides for the citizens.
There are residents in this county who have never visited the river and only think about it when they drive over one of the bridges in the county. People don’t realize that this river used to run year-round and plays home to 86 species of bird; nine species of mammals; five species of amphibians; and six species of reptiles, according to an endangered species assessment put together by students from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo for Granite Rock’s reclamation plan in 2000.
There are still a lot of things to work out, such as whether the park space would belong to the city or the county or be a joint amenity, but there is no denying that people are getting excited about the concept.
While plans for the project forge forward, Lo made it clear that nothing can happen without state funding. Final applications for the grants, available under Proposition 50, to finance the project will also have to get approval from the City Council and Board of Supervisors.
The proposition, passed by voters in 2002, made $100 million dollars available for river parkway projects statewide. During the next round of applications, $32.5 million is up for grabs. Lo said it was worth trying for at least some of the available dollars. Grant applications are due by Oct. 17, and the state is expected announce funding recipients in May or June of 2007.
So, while the river has been providing some with memorable experiences for years, it could soon be a travel destination for many more.
