The Old Stage Road, just outside San Juan Bautista, was
transformed into a part of the trail system in 1999 after it had
turned into a gang and lawless haven a year earlier. The portion
will be dedicated to Place after he spearheaded an effort to change
it into a part of the trail system.
After rain and poor weather washed away the county’s initial plans to dedicate a portion of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Trail system to former District 2 Supervisor Richard Place on April 20, the county is now holding the ceremony Sunday at 10 a.m.
The Old Stage Road, just outside San Juan Bautista, was transformed into a part of the trail system in 1999 after it had turned into a gang and lawless haven a year earlier. The portion will be dedicated to Place after he spearheaded an effort to change it into a part of the trail system.
Place started the idea of transforming the road to a national trail after he and the supervisors received complaints about the Old Stage Road area.
The road was quickly deteriorating and becoming a place where gangs were known to hang out. Landowners in the area complained that roadway visitors were damaging both their land and animals, and the county didn’t have the money to help clean up the roadway.
Place tried to find a better way of fixing it. With Graniterock’s proposition of paying for all road maintenance, he said the board of supervisors agreed to transform the road into a trail.
The four-mile road was changed, with help from Graniterock, by restricting all vehicle traffic and establishing a foot, horse or bike path.
Graniterock and the county came to a 10-year agreement in which Graniterock would maintain the roads. The contract expired earlier this year but was quickly renewed by the two parties.
The San Juan Bautista de Anza Trail system runs from the Mexican border to San Francisco, traveling 1,210 miles.
