A trails system for the ages.Earlier this year, trail enthusiasts achieved an historic victory for trails in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. County approved the adoption of a revolutionary new County Trails Program (CTP CTP (cytidine triphosphate): see cytosine. (1) (Computer-To-Plate) The production of printing plates directly from the computer without requiring film as an intermediate step. ). The new plan, a work in progress for more than a decade, will expand the county's already extensive 300-mile trail network to more than 1,500 miles, and will cover every region of the county's 4,200-square-mile land mass. The amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. diversity of trails in the plan will provide numerous benefits to the local economy and unique recreation opportunities for San Diego residents and visitors. The backbone of the plan is a 500-mile network of nine regionally and historically significant trails that cover the county from all directions. It includes the southern-most segment of the Pacific Crest Trail The Pacific Crest Trail (also known as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail that runs from the United States border with Mexico to its border with Canada and follows the highest portion of the Sierra Nevada and , which runs north from the Mexican border all the way to Canada; and the Trans County Trail, which runs west from the Imperial Desert to the Pacific Ocean. The nine regional trails link to 18 community trail plans that comprise an additional 1,000 miles. More than one million hiking and riding enthusiasts who live in the county and countless visitors already enjoy the current trail network on a regular basis. The CTP is a natural complement to San Diego County's award-winning Multiple Species Conservation Program, which protects close to 100,000 acres of sensitive habitat. The county is home to more types of rare and endangered plant and animal species than any other comparable land area on the continent. Much of the trail network will traverse in non-obtrusive ways through this biologically diverse environment. "The plan for trails is a huge enhancement for now and our future. In these busy days, people need the opportunity to see and appreciate the natural world around them," said Joan Embery Joan Embery (born c. 1952 in San Diego, California) is an animal and environmental advocate. A Trustee of the Morris Animal Foundation, a professional Fellow of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and a member of the Advisory Board of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine's , a wildlife preservationist pres·er·va·tion·ist n. One who advocates preservation, especially of natural areas, historical sites, or endangered species. pres and advocate for the CTP. A key to the success of the CTP is the unique partnership among local, state, federal and private landowners. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. County Board of Supervisors The examples and perspective in this article or section may represent an unduly geographically limited view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. The Board of Supervisors is the body governing counties in the U.S. Chairwoman Pam Slater-Price, the CTP partnership is an historic landmark for San Diego County. "This trails plan presents an occasion for multiple government agencies, nonprofit organizations Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. and citizens to work together to provide opportunities for healthy recreation in a way that safeguards the county's wonderful natural areas," said Slater-Price. Although most of the affected public lands are already part of the park system and protected from future development, private lands that are necessary to complete the trail network are rapidly being developed. Approval of the CTP allows the county to require the dedication of a trail from any private landowner who requests a discretionary permit to develop his or her land. In return, the county indemnifies the private landowner from claims and liability for injury to person or property that occurs on a trail when used for recreational purposes. This win-win approach gained the support of each of the major developer associations in San Diego County. But perhaps the most important factor behind the success of the CTP is that is was designed by trail lovers and landowners in each of the communities within San Diego County. The communities received technical guidance from the county for appropriate trail routes and design guidelines, but ultimately, all of the adopted trail maps were products of the individual communities' vision and involved hundreds of volunteer hours. San Diego County's Department of Parks and Recreation will be offering many programs throughout the year for residents and visitors to enjoy the most popular new trail segments. If you would like more information about the County's Trail Program, please visit www.sdparks.org. |
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