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The Missing Link

If you think this is the right thing for our neighborhoods, and would like to lend us your support, or would like periodic updates, please contact us at neighbors4trail@aol.com, by providing your name(s), address and phone number.

A grass-roots neighborhood organization, Neighbors for Santiago Creek Bike Trail, was formed to further the goal of a bike path in the “Missing Link” along Santiago Creek. This Missing Link is a 1/4-mile gap located in the Santiago Creek, between the 5 Freeway underpass and Flower Street. The City of Santa Ana does not currently have a bike trail proposed in the Missing Link. Too bad since the Missing Link will provide ready access to neighbors to adjoining trails throughout the County. We want open space and the ability to connect to these outlying bike trails, shopping centers (the Main Place Mall, the City Place, the Discovery Science Center which just announced a $62 million dollar expansion, the Nature Center in Santiago Park, etc., etc.) and communities either by biking, jogging or hiking.

The Missing Link will join Santa Ana to the County’s regional bike trails and link together four neighborhoods (West Floral Park, Floral Park, Jack Fisher Park, Morrison Park), to the neighborhoods near Santiago Park (separated by the 5 Freeway) along the Creek which have been divided because of the 5 Freeway. The improvements were funded by several sources including but not limited to: Federal and State grants, Prop 1B, and OC Parks. We anticipate that this will be the source of funding for the improvements to the Missing Link.

We want a trail in keeping with the character of the Creek. - no concrete - like the one in Santiago Park (see above picture of the path in Santiago Park.)

The opponents of the trail have been very vocal. We need this trail to happen! They were able to convince the City to consider closing off this section of the Creek! The City had commissioned a study for that purpose! The study results are in and fencing off the area is NOT AN OPTION! Now lets focus on the completion of this trail. The trail in Santiago Creek could turn out to be one of the City’s greatest assets connecting us to the rest of the County!

Sign our Petition

It'll just take a minute! Also, you can have others sign it in your household, spouses, etc. Better yet, we can send a widget that you can attach to pertinent websites or blogs. Spread the word within your group. We need all Santa Ana residents fired up for this matter.

The Latest News and Events

Supporters of Completion of the Santiago Creek Bike Trail

Santiago Creek Greenway Alliance

Orange County Bicycle Coalition

Team VeloSport

Trails4All

The Bicycle Tree

Why Should You Support a Trail ?

Outdoor Activity– We want to connect to the County’s regional trail system and walk and bike to restaurants and shops, Discovery Science Center, the Nature Reserve with bird sanctuary (in Santiago Park), Archery Range, Lawn Bowling, etc. Our kids should enjoy nature and outdoor activity. A trail is an important message to them. The safest route for the trail is in this section of the Creek and not on the road.

Nature - We are ardent supporters of the environment. We are supportive of other trail groups like The Santiago Creek Greenway Alliance and Trails4All. We want additional trees planted and native habitat restored.

The Missing Link Currently - The ¼ mile missing link is a haven to people who do not want to be seen. A bike path will provide police access and provide visibility into this area. This will help to clean up this area. A similar result occurred when Santiago Creek was cleaned up and a bike path was constructed in Santiago Park (in Santa Ana.) That area now attracts families and mothers with children. Existing Trail in Santiago Park (Santa Ana) – ¼ mile away!

Enhanced and More Credible Image for Our Neighborhoods – By building a trail that connects to other trails in the County, we gain an important asset to counter the lack of collective open space. Such trails evoke people's imagination of a well-functioning community. This image is reinforced by the presence of bicycles on a trail through the heart of our neighborhood. A quarter mile linear park along Santiago Creek is the only opportunity we have in this neighborhood to enjoy a natural setting. Our community needs this bike trail as does it’s poorly served citizenry. Santa Ana has the lowest ratio of park space to people on the entire State. We want monies that are already set aside, at the County level for trails, as part of Measure M, to be spent on our neighborhoods!

Photos of trail Before and After (click photos to enlarge)

The protestors against Santiago Creek Bike trail led by Ron Salem (the guy saying "Ooh La La") at the Open House in Santa Ana on Feb. 11, 2012.

Video credit: Glenn Frank

Neighbors 4 Santiago Creek Trail

Support the Completion of the "Missing Link" Bike Path in Santiago Creek