San Bernardino Mountains
Zanja and parks are among Redlands'…
Redlands teacher arrested
City facilities closed
Suit: Trash funds used illegally
School board gives itself raise
Zanja and parks are among Redlands' Emerald Necklace gems
The view from Caroline Park will be a featured Emerald Necklace gem on this year's Emerald Necklace Grand Tour.
By Redlands Daily Facts | redlands@dfmdev.com |
February 2, 2016 at 10:23 p.m.
Redlands is surrounded by a swath of green space, casually called the Emerald Necklace. On this necklace are many gems, identified in the 1987 Redlands Park and Open Space Plan.
The eight categories of Emerald Necklace gems are buffering open spaces at the major entrances; citrus groves in and around the city; large natural areas; the historic Mill Creek Zanja; park and recreation spaces; scenic roads; riding, hiking and bicycling trails; and rural living areas.
On Feb. 20, Redlands will celebrate these gems with the Emerald Necklace Grand Tour, a biking, driving or bus-riding tour of the green belt that still encircles most of the city.
Last week's article described three of the gem categories on the tour. This week's will address two more — the Mill Creek Zanja and the park and recreation spaces.
Cities with water features capitalize on the lakes and rivers that pass through them. Sacramento has the Sacramento River, San Luis Obispo has a creek, and San Antonio actually built a river.
Redlands has two water features, both of which predate the town — the Santa Ana River and the Mill Creek Zanja, the latter built in 1819.
The 1987 plan writers perceived the advantage of having the Zanja in town, despite the periodic flooding issues, and recommended creating a strip park with related trails following the Zanja from Crafton through the downtown area.
Many citizen efforts to save and restore the Zanja as it passes through town have paved the way for the current project, the Zanja Trail and Greenway Park, adopted in concept by City Council, which will provide a natural surface trail along or near the historic Zanja between Ninth Street on the west and Wabash Avenue on the east.
Eventually, the trail will go all the way past Crafton Avenue, providing a path more than four miles long, with historic and environmental interpretation.
This year's Emerald Necklace Grand Tour will have people stopping at one spot on the proposed Zanja Trail and Greenway Park at Lincoln Street and Laramie Avenue. At that "chew and view" site, guests will see the renderings for the trail and for a small pocket park. Docents at the site will help people see the scope of the project.
According to the 1987 Emerald Necklace Plan, Redlands' park and recreation spaces offer more gems for Redlanders to enjoy. Redlands has 16 parks of various sizes scattered throughout the city, including two natural parks — Caroline Park and Oakmont Park. Measure O funds allowed the city to acquire property at the corner of San Bernardino Avenue and Dearborn Street, where the city built the soccer fields and sports complex that young people use for much of the year.
Each of the parks is a gem in its own way.
On the Feb. 20 Grand Tour, guests will see Caroline Park; the Orange Blossom Trail at Lincoln Street and Laramie Avenue; the soccer fields — a big expanse of bright emerald green; and Israel Beal Park and the Santa Ana River wash. These are all gems that provide a respite from congestion.
The Park and Open Space Plan also highlighted nature study areas and riding and hiking trails.
On the Grand Tour, guests will visit one of Redlands' mega-gems, the San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary at the east entrance on Alessandro Road. This gem has 160 acres of natural land, including a year-round creek, grass land and hillside chaparral.
Docents at the site will share information about the extent of the site and how it is available for people to enjoy.
Next week's article will describe the last three gem categories and what guests on the Emerald Necklace Grand Tour can expect to see.
For information about the Emerald Necklace Grand Tour and to register, go to redlandsconservancy.org.
Source: Redlands Conservancy
Redlands Unified failed to address complaints about teacher accused of sexual abuse, lawsuit alleges
Newsom budget: The good, the bad and the ugly
Here's what's closed due to 210 Freeway work from Redlands to San Bernardino
Redlands Unified teacher arrested in alleged sexual abuse of student
Baal, Ashtoreth and Molech – God's Old Testament rivals
Baal, Ashtoreth and Molech - God's Old Testament rivals