April 15, 2008
Contact:
Brian
McCulloch
Tel: 951-313-4322
Redlands Bicycle Classic’s Mayor’s
Challenge Brings Awareness to the Santa Ana River Trail
and Parkway
New Coast to Crest Trail will give Community
Members a Pathway to Adventure
Redlands, Calif. — April 15, 2008 — A
100-mile trail encompassed by lush landscape will soon
merge with the urbanized world, giving Orange, Riverside,
and San Bernardino County residents and visitors a new
realm of recreation, complete with access to golf courses,
equestrian centers, and restaurants. To promote the Santa
Ana Trail and Parkway and the tremendous progress being
made towards its completion, local mayors and government
officials and State Coastal Conservancy members kept
their wheels spinning in the 2008 Redlands Bicycle Classic
Mayors’ Challenge Race. Each of the competitors
represented a community along the Santa Ana River Trail
and Parkway (SARTP), including many members of the three
county SARTP Policy Advisory Group, a regional partnership
of elected officials and agencies that was established
to create a framework to build and administer the trail
as a regional resource.
Despite their dueling positions
in the Mayors’ Challenge
Race, the California Coastal Conservancy and SARTP display
extensive teamwork when it comes to the community. SARTP
sets the stage for cooperation, coordination, and collaboration
among the agencies and stakeholders within the watershed. “It
was an honor to ride with a group of mayors and supervisors
from the region in the Mayors’ Challenge,” said
Samuel Schuchat, executive officer, State Coastal Conservancy. “The
event showcased the cooperation among three counties
and 14 cities to get the Santa Ana River Trail finished.
Next year, Mayor Morris (challenge winner) better watch
out because I’ll be back to win!” In addition
to the fourteen cities, and the counties of Orange, Riverside
and San Bernardino, the Policy Advisory Group includes
the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, and the nonprofit
group, the Wildlands Conservancy.
The Santa Ana River
Trail that is fueling their passion is in the midst of
construction. Part of the trail is already complete and
environmental studies and design are underway for the
remaining sections of trail. Construction of remaining
14 miles of trail in San Bernardino County, all located
to the east of Waterman Avenue in San Bernardino and
Redlands, may begin as early as 2009 with completion
in 2011. The other 25 miles of trail to be completed,
primarily in the vicinity of the Prado Basin in Riverside
and Orange Counties, should be complete by 2012. While
the work continues, it is important community members
learn about the new recreational opportunities that approach.
“The Redlands Bicycle Classic is an ideal venue
for promoting the Santa Ana River Trail,” said
Redlands Mayor Jon Harrison. “The Classic is a
high energy event, attended by thousands of cyclists,
families and recreation enthusiasts that will greatly
benefit from the trail when it is completed.”
Participants in the Mayors’ Challenge
were Sam Schuchat, director of the Coastal Conservancy;
Mary Small, staff member of the Coastal Conservancy;
Supervisor Dennis Hansberger; Supervisor Josie Gonzales
and her chief of staff Bob Page; Riverside Mayor Ron
Loveridge; Redlands Mayor Jon Harrison; San Bernardino
Mayor Pat Morris; Corona Councilmember Eugene Montanez;
and Patricia Lock-Dawson, SARTP staff member.
About the Redlands Bicycle Classic
The Redlands Bicycle Classic is an all-volunteer organization, including the board of directors. The 24th annual Redlands Bicycle Classic is scheduled for April 3-6, 2008. The event was founded in 1985 by a community group chaired by then Mayor Carole Beswick to promote awareness of downtown Redlands. Since that time, professional cyclists from around the world have been racing in this event centered around the city of Redlands, California. The Redlands Bicycle Classic is on the United States Cycling Federation (USCF) National Racing Calendar (NCR).
About PossAbilities
PossAbilities is a community outreach program of Loma Linda University Rehabilitation, Orthopaedic, and Neurosciences Institute. Membership to PossAbilities is free and there are no age restrictions. For more information: www.mypossabilities.com
About the city of Beaumont
The city of Beaumont is a growing community nestled in the San Gorgonio Pass between Mount San Gorgonio and Mount San Jacinto. Founded in 1912, the city has a population approaching 32,000 and was named the fastest growing city in the state of California for the year 2006. Beaumont is attracting a host of newcomers who are eager to enjoy the city's numerous amenities, including a strong history, low crime, high quality of life, and planned growth. Along with an increasing number of residents, many businesses have also moved into the area, resulting in a well balanced community that is becoming known as a great place to live, work, and play.
