City Eyes Trail Plan

Glendale's new trails consultant is preparing a project for City Council approval to develop a trails master plan for the city.

Jeff Weinstein comes to Glendale as a consultant after working as trails coordinator for Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Weinstein said, "I want to take the existing trails in the city and develop a map for use by hikers, bikers and horse riders."

The emphasis will be on creating multipurpose trails, he said, though all trails won't be feasible for all uses.

Weinstein said the plan will devote attention first to the Verdugo Mountains, then to Deukmejian Wilderness Park and finally to the San Rafael Hills.

With council approval the plans are to hold a series of public workshops and open houses. "I want to spread out the map and get people's ideas," he said.

The effort will be coordinated with the county trail system, and with neighboring jurisdictions such as La Cañada, which has a very sophisticated trail plan. Weinstein said the workshops will probably begin sometime in March.

The eventual plan is to create a trails master plan that covers the entire city. Regional trails include the Backbone Trail and the Rim of the Valley, which if completed will link Glendale to trails stretching through the San Fernando and Simi Valleys.

Weinstein said one of the aspects of the plan will be trailheads with access to the system. Currently trail enthusiasts can have access through Brand Park, Deukmejian Park and Scholl Canyon.

A regional Los Angeles River Greenbelt is also planned, with about a mile running through Glendale. There are also links to Griffith Park.