AROUND HERE, RESIDENTS TAKE THEIR RECREATION SERIOUSLY.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Daily News Staff Writer

You can't often walk more than a few blocks in Santa Clarita without spotting a soccer practice, a jogger or two, some bicyclists or a pickup basketball game.

Whole families are out, coaches with teams, lone athletes, friends grabbing a quick game of tennis or kids in the midst of yet another round of home-run derby in the park. Yes, Santa Clarita residents take their recreation very seriously.

``For some reason this city has gotten the reputation as a healthy city,'' said Jerry Cherrington, a Santa Clarita planning commissioner and organizer of the community marathon, which began last year.

``Maybe it's the embodiment of the California lifestyle, the sunshine, the healthy way of living,'' Cherrington said. ``It's not because we're a young community because certainly we see all ages out there.''

The opportunities for exercise, leisure and fun are vast.

Head for the hills that touch the city and there begin the hiking paths. The Placerita Nature Center off Placerita Canyon Road in Newhall has trails, nature studies and lots of creepy crawly things to look at.

Vasquez Rocks offers a spectacular backdrop for hiking and rock climbing. And the new Towsley Canyon Park on Newhall's west side offers challenging grades through forest land dotted with rainbows of wildflowers and an abundance of critters.

Among Santa Clarita's greatest recreational accomplishments is the marathon. The second annual race is scheduled for Nov. 10, following the inaugural marathon that drew 600 runners and walkers.

About 3,000 participants are expected this year, including about 1,000 members of the Los Angeles Marathon's Team in Training, who will participate in a concurrent 10-mile event.

And they're starting them young. A third race - a 1-kilometer kiddie run - is planned. Call [phone] for information.

The city has taken steps to preserve open land and has been aggressive in expanding its network of paseos, and bike and equestrian trails. And where city officials have been unable to keep up with the demands for softball fields, tennis courts and the like, the shortage has been balanced a bit by private youth sports organizations and homeowners associations.

The community boasts the nation's second largest youth baseball program - the Hart PONY League fields in Valencia - and is home to the nation's second largest American Youth Soccer Organization district. AYSO officials estimate the 5,000 people in the valley play in their organization or on private teams. The Canyon Country Little League is so big, organization bylaws forced it to divide in two. Those programs are listed in the white pages of the phone book.

Local swim teams have gained fame on the Southern California aquatics circuit, operating out of city park pools or private neighborhood association recreation centers. The parks offer a variety of swim programs including exercise classes, competitive swimming, water polo, diving and various lessons. Call City Hall at [phone] for information.

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Photo

Photo: Frank Hoffman, recreation leader at the Placerita Ca nyon Nature Center, fills the water dish of a king snake.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News