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Ventura River Trail Improvements
About
The Ventura River Trail Improvement Project seeks to renovate approximately 1.8-miles of the existing trail, from the Rex/Dubbers trail beginning at the southern limits to the City of Ventura limits, near Sycamore Village, on the north end.
Funded by the Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) for a total of nearly $5 million, this project will fund infrastructure improvements like repaving the trail, adding a comprehensive wayfinding and signage program, improving accessibility at key locations, adding solar lighting, and other various beautification and urban greening elements to help fill a growing need to provide improvements for this aging trail.
Community Survey and Workshop
On December 6, 2022, Pacific Coast Land Design (PCLD) led a community workshop at the Westpark Community Center to determine what design ideas community members desired for the Ventura River Trail Improvement Project. Attendees were encouraged to participate in four activities throughout the workshop.
Find below the compiled results from both the in-person community workshop and 300+ online surveys we received and have displayed the high-level takeaways below. Download the results details.
Important upcoming dates:
- March 1, 2023: Westside Community Council
- March 8, 2023: Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
- Early Summer 2023: Bids opening
- Fall 2023: Construction scheduled to begin
- Summer 2024: Grand opening
Email Interest List
Register for Ventura River Trail Improvement Project Updates and information.
Project background
Originally constructed as a rails-to-trails amenity in the late 1990s, the Ventura River Trail hugs State Route 33 and the east bank of the Ventura River, forming the western boundary of Ventura’s Westside neighborhood. Along the 1.8-mile City of Ventura stretch of the trail is a mix of residential, industrial, educational, and park land uses.
- To reduce the amount of waste and debris within public rights-of-way, pathways, parks, transit centers, and other public spaces.
- To enhance, rehabilitate, restore, or install measures to beautify and improve public spaces.
- To enhance public health, cultural connection, and community placemaking by improving public spaces for walking and recreation
- Advance equity for underserved communities.
- Greening to provide shade, reduce the urban island effect, and use native, low-water plants
This project represents improvements that benefit the underserved area (100% of census tracts within ¼ mile qualify as underserved) in which it lies represented by the following anticipated outcomes: 80% estimated reduction in site waste and debris. A 100% increase in human scale energy conserving lighting.
This project will enable critical connections to daily life destinations by improving a walking and biking route. The project site will function for people with disabilities and special needs. An anticipated 90% increase in native, drought-tolerant plantings and an 85% overall increase in project greening and tree canopy.
Goals of the Grant:
- Goal 1: Reduce the Amount of Waste and Debris
- Goal 2: Beautify and Improve Public Space
- Goal 3: Improving Public Spaces for Walking and Recreation
- Goal 4: Advance Equity for Underserved Communities
On January 22, 2022, a virtual forum to gain feedback from residents and stakeholders on the City’s Clean California Grant Application for Ventura River Trail renovations was held. A related community survey in English and Spanish was circulated and received a total of 550 responses. The project received 23 letters of support from the following project supporters.
Project supporters
- AERA Energy
- Office of Assemblymember Steve Bennett
- Ventura Bike Hub
- Friends of Ventura River
- Office of Senator Monique Limon
- Lifeline Outreach Resource Center
- Office of County Supervisor Matt LaVere
- Patagonia
- Pierpont Bay Community Council
- Ventura Housing Authority
- Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau
- Ventura Land Trust
- Ventura Tree Alliance
- Ventura Unified School District
- Watershed Progressive
- Westside Community Council
- Westside Community Development Corporation
Due to the overwhelming support and need for this community project, the State of California, in partnership with Caltrans, awarded this grant application in March of 2022 for a total award of nearly $5 million. Project completion and the grand reopening of the river trail are estimated by the spring of 2024.