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Volunteers lead the effort to build the Bay Area Ridge Trail, supported by a small, dedicated staff. Together, we work county-by-county to add new segments of the trail. Our efforts leverage and support the work of state and regional parks and open space groups, and our success is the result of our ability to forge effective partnerships.
The Council enjoys strong community support, with over 3,500 members and 200 volunteers actively involved in permanently preserving the Ridge Trail through a network of connected and accessible parks and open spaces. We receive diverse funding support through members, donors, foundations, corporate supporters, and special events. Since 2001 the Council has established a partnership with the California Coastal Conservancy to help complete the trail. Thanks to bond funding approved by the voters in 2000 and 2002, grants of nearly $3 million have helped build the trail.
Pilarcitos Reservoir in the San Francisco Watershed. Photo Courtesy of the SFPUC
The opening of the 9.5-mile multi-use Ridge Trail section through the San Francisco Watershed in 2003 is a case study showing how patience, tenacity, and effective advocacy can finally prevail. This beautiful trail through the 24,000-acre fish and wildlife refuge owned by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission was a priority for the Council from our earliest days. Starting in the late 1980s, the Council led guided tours into the Watershed on special-permit basis, demonstrating the feasibility of public access. In 1997 our advocacy helped persuade the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to unanimously pass a resolution requiring that the SFPUC incorporate access into its management plan within 30 days. Still, it took years for the City to complete the environmental reviews, public hearings, and management plans to open the trail.
The plan that was developed required guided tours by reservation, of no more than 25 trail users. The parking facilities needed to be upgraded; restroom facilities, trail signs, and disability access were installed; and volunteer leaders were recruited and trained. The Council coordinated $125,000 of Proposition 40 Coastal Conservancy Funds to help fund the opening of the trail. None of this would have happened without the tireless advocacy of the Council's board and volunteers, who attended public hearings and contacted their legislators.
This is a success of which we are very proud. There are many other interesting tales about building the trail, and there will be many more before we complete this challenging endeavor.
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