Just wondering what happened to the public hiking trails up in the open space above Eagle Ridge (the subdivision in the foothills just west of Santa Teresa Blvd. and south of Highway 152, or Hecker Pass Highway). I know when Eagle Ridge was developed, part of the agreement was that they’d keep that open space up in the hills and also that they’d make sure there was public access to hiking trails up there. I’ve yet to see any trails or public access. Just wondering what happened to all that. I think that was part of the agreement to allow Eagle Ridge to be built. Thank you.
Red Phone:
Red Phone has done some very interesting research, good caller, to find out what is going on above Eagle Ridge. Red Phone contacted Gilroy’s Parks and Recreation Department Supervisor Bill Headley, who happens to be very knowledgeable about the Bay Area Ridge Trail. According to Headley, the Ridge Trail does not exist above Eagle Ridge, at this time. The non-profit Bay Area Ridge Trail Council was officially formed in 1992 with a mission to build a continuous ridge-top trail along the ridgelines overlooking San Francisco Bay. The trail at the south end has not yet been completed.
Headley said, “Gilroy does not maintain open spaces.” According to Headley, there is a designated trail to be built once the right-of-ways are secured for the Ridge Trail. He also said that this process of building the Ridge Trail might take generations to accomplish.
Headley said, “In the Gilroy Trail Master Plan, Gilroy will build a trail spur or public access trail to the Ridge Trail when it is completed.” One trail spur will be next to the Gilroy Gardens, and the Eagle Ridge Homeowners Association will provide another.
“Eagle Ridge is responsible for providing a protected, visual open space above Eagle Ridge, but it is still 300 feet below the ridge top”, Headley said.
Interested parties can find more information about the Ridge Trail by visiting the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council website, www.ridgetrail.org. You can support the trail group by becoming a member, donating and/or volunteering.
