Hollister
– On the cusp of Pinnacles National Monument’s centennial, park
officials and planners sat down with county residents Monday night
to begin discussing the park’s future.
Hollister – On the cusp of Pinnacles National Monument’s centennial, park officials and planners sat down with county residents Monday night to begin discussing the park’s future.
Monday night’s meeting offered San Benito County residents a chance to sound off on what they believe the park needs to do through the next 20 years to better accommodate visitors. About 10 people attended the meeting at the San Benito County Board of Supervisors Hall, sharing varying thoughts on what changes park officials should implement.
However, many attendees agreed that the visitor’s center should be moved closer to Highway 25 to allow better access to the different areas of the park and reduce traffic and congestion. Attendees also agreed that officials should develop more trails to spread visitors throughout the park and utilize newly acquired land.
David Cole visited the park several years ago with his family. He said his family fell in love with the park and now live on a ranch near the monument.
Cole would like to see the park develop more family-friendly trails, particularly on the Pinnacles Ranch, added to the park in 2000.
“I think the Pinnacles Ranch is prime,” he said. “If you look at the Pinnacles, it’s so steep.”
Some attendees believe access to the monument itself should be improved.
Jennifer Coile, of Hollister, said she would like to see clean fuel transportation become available from Bolado Park or downtown Hollister.
National Park Service planners took note of the discussion. The park will issue a newsletter with the ideas brought forth in all of the meetings.
The ideas shared Monday night will go into a general management plan. The last general management plan was developed in 1976, said Eric Brunnemann, park superintendent.
Brunnemann said it is important to take into account what the public wants, as its needs and desires change.
“What people wanted 30 years ago may not be what people want now,” Brunnemann said. “And we’re here to address that.”
Martha Crusius, a National Park Service senior planner, was on hand to moderate the discussion.
Crusius said the greatest challenge in developing the general management plan will be balancing the needs of all the visitors. Crusius said those who attended the Hollister meeting brought many thoughtful ideas.
“Clearly people care about Pinnacles and they’re thinking about its future.”
The general management plan will be a broad document to give park officials direction on not only the park’s future, but its daily operations. Crusius called Pinnacles the Bay Area’s “unknown jewel.”
Carl Brenner, supervisor of interpretation and education for the park, said he was pleased with the turnout.
“This is exactly what we need,” Brenner said. “We need heartfelt expressions and honest opinions to give us the direction that we need.”
Reb Monaco, who has been a park visitor for 55 years, commended the park for adapting to visitors’ needs throughout the years. Monaco hopes the general management plan will not restrict public access in the future as the area’s population grows.
“I would hope that the overriding vision is maximum public access to the park,” Monaco said.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected].
