MidPen Open Space District Seeks Public Input On Trail Access

LOS GATOS, CA — The question of what to do with access for man, machine and wildlife will represent a hot topic for Los Gatos area residents next Tuesday.

With 30,000 public land from which to work with, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is seeking citizen input on potential routes that would link existing trails as part of the State Route 17 wildlife and trail crossing now being planned.

MidPen is hosting a meeting on July 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to take valuable community feedback. It's scheduled at the Los Gatos Methodist Church located at 111 Church Street in Los Gatos.

Interested parties unable to attend may provide their comments via Midpen’s website beginning July 10.

“Connecting open space lands and trails that are divided by dangerous roadways provide both wildlife and people with safe access to the natural areas they need to be healthy and thrive,” Midpen Project Manager Aaron Peth said.

The crossing will link tens of thousands of acres of protected public land, offering safe passage for deer, mountain lions and other wildlife that cross the busy highway near Los Gatos. The area has been identified as a roadkill hotspot due to frequent collisions between wildlife and vehicles.

The project also creates opportunities to connect existing recreational trails, including the closing of a gap in a 50-mile stretch of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and linking the Los Gatos Creek Trail with Midpen’s newly-opened Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve.

The SR-17 crossing was identified by the public as the highest priority in Midpen’s community-supported Vision Plan. The project is partially funded by Measure AA, an open space bond passed by local voters in 2014. Midpen is leading the project in collaboration with many partners, stakeholders and the public.

More information may be found by visiting www.openspace.org/Hwy17Trails.