San Juan Bautista
– San Benito County’s four-mile stretch of the Juan Bautista de
Anza Trail may be a key part of California history, but Mission
City resident Jim Sleznick thinks it hasn’t gotten the attention it
deserves.
San Juan Bautista – San Benito County’s four-mile stretch of the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail may be a key part of California history, but Mission City resident Jim Sleznick thinks it hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves.
Sleznick, a retired national park manager, has been spearheading efforts to rededicate the de Anza trail, which he hopes will “jump-start” local and regional interest.
“Hopefully, it will become a more popular place,” Sleznick said. “I want it to be woven into the fabric of San Juan Bautista.”
As to why people should care about a four-mile stretch of dirt, Sleznick pointed to the trail’s historic significance.
“It was the first exploration by Spain of its new acquisitions in the southwest,” he said. “The Anza expedition literally opened up what was later to become El Camino Real.”
The 1,200-mile trail marks the route Juan Bautista de Anza took on his colonizing expedition up the California coast in 1775 and 1776. The trail’s interpretive specialist, Margaret Styles, said a small band of de Anza’s soldiers rode through San Juan Bautista in March 24, 1776, followed by settlers in June.
The trail ties into Mission San Juan Bautista’s historic theme. If promoted properly, it could help draw history-minded tourists to the area, Sleznick said. San Benito County’s stretch of the trail is unique, Styles said, because it’s open for recreational activities such as hiking and bicycling – and not just automobiles.
“It’s a great walk,” Styles said.
San Juan Bautista resident Cody Mendiola, 17, has spent the past three months cleaning the trail and building benches for a final project as an Eagle Scout. Mendiola’s mother, Deedee Hanania, said her son embraced the work because she had taken him hiking on the trail as a child and he had run on the trail to train for cross country.
“He said, ‘Ooh, that sounds like something I can put my teeth into,'” Hanania said.
The plan for Saturday’s rededication includes appearances by costumed historical performers Amigos de Anza and Los Soldados. Amigos de Anza is an equestrian group dedicated to promoting the trail. The group even repeated the entire 1,200-mile ride in 1976, Styles said.
“For me, what’s fascinating about the trail is that it’s a community-based trail,” she said. “People are very passionate about this story.”
