The Carpinteria Architectural Review Board recently approved plans for the $2-million Franklin Creek trail that aims to provide a safer path to Aliso Elementary School.
With the goal to improve accessibility, the project will resurface the path and add fencing on the east side of Franklin Creek between Carpinteria Avenue and Seventh Street. Construction is expected to start early next year and be completed by June 2026, according to the city.
“It’s a fine project, it’s been a long time coming,” said board member Richard Johnson at an Oct. 16 board meeting.
The path would add a two-lane concrete pavement path that’s about 12 feet wide and 900 feet long. Additionally new lighting, plants, benches and trash cans will be along the trail as well as new fencing along the creek, according to the city.
Planner Syndi Souter explained that currently the informal trail is used by the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District for maintenance access to the Franklin Creek.
The trail will be in the Carpinteria’s first district which is represented by Vice Mayor Mónica Solórzano, who said the project is “very near and dear” to her heart because her daughters went to Aliso Elementary School and she previously served as president of the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA).
“I know how much that safe, improved path is going to be important for kids in our neighborhood and in my district, getting to school,” Solórzano told Noozhawk. “That, to me, is one of the most exciting things about it.”
Solórzano said the paved path, landscape, and lighting will be a huge improvement compared to the existing dirt trail that has weeds and an uneven ground.
“I think this path is something that’s going to really encourage that pedestrian use of the area,” Solórzano said. “Being so close, not just to the school, but that whole neighborhood is near the community garden, it’s getting closer to downtown, so I think that it’s going to serve as a big connector for that part of town in District 1 specifically.”
The ARB previously reviewed the project in April. At the time they recommended removing fabric covering from the fencing, opting for a plain chain link fence instead, and to add more native plants to the trail.
The Carpinteria Planning Commission reviewed the project in July and approved the project with the conditions that the city work with the flood control district to plant a native sycamore tree with a 24-inch diameter trunk to replace a eucalyptus tree that will be removed near Carpinteria Avenue.
ARB board member Richard Little asked that a tree with a 36-inch trunk be planted instead since it’s meant to replace a large eucalyptus tree.
“It’s larger, especially since we’re taking out the larger eucalyptus there, it would have more of an impact,” Little said.
The Planning Commission also asked for signs to be added along the trail with information about the native plants and wildlife.
In total six trees will be removed and replaced by seven native trees, according to the city’s Public Information Officer Juliza Briones.
The $2-million project is fully funded through several grants including a community development block grant, South Coast Safe Routes to School Program, South Coast Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, as well as local Measure A and Measure C funds, according to the city.