Politics & Government

Miles Of Wildomar Trails Up For Discussion

Residents concerned about the city's trails will get a chance to voice their opinions on March 14 when Wildomar City Council takes up the issue of a proposed Adopt-A-Trail program during its regulary scheduled meeting.

Earlier this week, we asked Wildomar residents if they were looking forward to the opening of more designated trails in the city.

As of early Friday afternoon, 92 percent of poll respondents answered yes. ( to read more about the non-scientific poll.)

Residents concerned about the city’s trails will get a chance to voice their opinions on March 14 when Wildomar City Council takes up the issue of a proposed Adopt-A-Trail program during its regulary scheduled meeting.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If adopted by the council, the program could see miles and miles of multi-use trails open, said Wildomar resident Gary Andre, who has been volunteering his time mapping the city’s roadside and off-road trails. (See the attached draft map.) Andre’s qualifications include serving on the Wildomar Planning Commission and on the county's trails commission. Andre said his expertise also includes working as a CAD specialist.

Using a county model that was in place before the city incorporated in 2008, the Wildomar Adopt-A-Trail program would let residents, businesses and organizations take on the responsibility of maintaining trails. In exchange for volunteer efforts, a sign would be posted on the trail recognizing the contributing family, company, organization, etc.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Andre said adopter responsibilities would include light trail maintenance, such as trash pick-up, weeding, and trimming small branches. The city, Andre said, would be responsible for larger maintenance projects, like repairing washed-out trails.

According to city documents prepared for the March 14 meeting by Assistant City Manager Gary Nordquist, the city has not designated any funding for Wildomar trails in its budget for fiscal year 2011-12, which ends June 30.

If approved by city council, the multi-use trails, once adopted, are scheduled to be open to hikers, joggers, dog walkers (leashed dogs), horseback riders and cyclists. No motorized vehicles would be allowed.

Andre said the Adopt-A-Trail program is designed to protect the city’s ranch community. Designated trails increase home values by 9 percent, Andre contends. He said his figure is derived from statistics compiled by the non-profit Rails-to-Trails Conservancy based in Washington D.C.

“I want to see something finally get done on these trails,” Andre said.

Before incorporation, Wildomar had an Adopt-A-Trail program that was county-administered, but that fell by the wayside after cityhood. Today, Andre said the county still owns easements through Wildomar, but under incorporation the city would take the lead on maintaining them under the proposed Adopt-A-Trail program.

The March 14 City Council meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at 23873 Clinton Keith Road. To view the entire agenda, click here.


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