Santee breaks ground on new Walker Preserve Trail

Santee will soon have another star attraction. Early on the bright, cloudless morning of Oct. 23, dignitaries and local businessmen broke ground for Walker Preserve Trail, a section of the river trail in Santee just east of RCP Block and Brick of North Magnolia Avenue.

Santee will soon have another star attraction. Early on the bright, cloudless morning of Oct. 23, dignitaries and local businessmen broke ground for Walker Preserve Trail, a section of the river trail in Santee just east of RCP Block and Brick of North Magnolia Avenue.

The trail segment will parallel the San Diego River that begins its start high up in the Cuyamaca Mountains and empties out to the sea by Dog Beach. Named after the Walker family from whom the property was procured, the multi-use recreational trail segment will stretch for 1.3 mile along the river. 

The area stretches in between Magnolia Ave. on the west side, ending at the near Lakeside Baseball Park. It is a 107-acre open space property formerly used for farming and industrial and mining.

“The river is a defining feature of Santee,” said Bill Maertz, director of community services.

Mayor Randy Vopel said he wanted to give special thanks to Dianne Jacobs.

“Years ago, she had made the pledge that the grail would go from mountain to sea,” Vopel said.

Vopel said that Santee was listed as one of the top 10 family-friendly cities in California, according to a study by Credit Donkey, a credit card comparison site.

“Now building the Walker Preserve Trail helps the family-friendly status of Santee even more,” he said.

The new trail, due for completion in about five months, will be 14 feet wide with decomposed granite surface, good for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding.

“By default, the new trail will boost property values of the houses around here,” said Vice Mayor Rob McNelis.

City Councilmember John Minto stepped up to the podium. “This trail project is a bridge from Santee’s past to the present,” he said.

In 1984, the Santee River Park Plan pushed forward the concept of neighboring open space, Minto explained.

“And here we are today, fulfilling that goal. Someday, this trail will lead 52 miles from the mountains to the ocean,” Minto said.

Councilmember Jack Dale said the new trail would help the city of Santee’s goal to become all that it can be.

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob remarked that the groundbreaking was a special event for all East County regions.

“This trail will complete the linkage between Lakeside and the city of Santee,” Jacob said.

Jacob recognized the importance of the partnership and working together of cities and agencies. “The list is long,” she said,” From the Lakeside Conservancy, the City of Santee, the County of San Diego and the San Diego River Conservancy.”

Funding was garnered by grants from the State Coastal Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Board, State Parks and Recreation Department. The City of Santee Capital Improvement Program allocated another $2 million towards the property acquisition.

“And let’s not forget Sam Walker, who is the original owner of the property. Without his generosity, this project wouldn’t even have started,” said Jacob.

Walker smiled and nodded. “It will be a great trail. I’ll be taking my horses out here,” he said.

According to Walker, the majority of the work and credit should go to RCP Block and Brick. “They’ve been really instrumental,” Walker said of Sand Plant Manager Tom Phelps.

“It’s just been all part of the Reclamation Plan we got approved in 1992,” Phelps said.

Walker Preserve Trail will feature amenities such as interpretive signs, kiosks, a shade shelter, picnic tables and benches, drinking fountains and a mister. The trailhead will be off Magnolia Ave. east of RCP Block and Brick. 

The development of the Walker Preserve Trail carries out the vision of Santee’s 1981 San Diego River Conceptual Master Plan. The riverfront parcel was purchased for $2,140,000 with grants from the State Coastal Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the State Wildlife Conservation Board. The property had been part of a 350-acre dairy farm owned by the Walker family.

The property is high-quality habitat for federally protected bird species, including the Southwestern willow flycatcher, the California gnatcatcher, and the least Bell’s vireo.

For more information about the Walker Preserve Trail project, go to WWW.cityofsantee.blogspot.com/2014/02/san-diego-river-trail-walker-preserve.html.