Safe Routes To Parks

A partnership with Santa Clara University

For over a decade our Central Valley regional office has worked directly with residents, community-based organizations, businesses, and our local government in Stanislaus County. Together we have focused on creating healthy communities and restoring areas along the Tuolumne River Regional Park (TRRP) that are most impacted by illegal dumping and blight, homeless encampments, and illicit behavior. 

A few examples of our collaborative work are:  

  • Developed an Airport Neighborhood (AN) Urban Greening Plan, which outlines plans to improve the AN’s green infrastructure and access to outdoor spaces.

  • Developed the Safe Routes to School initiatives and infrastructure improvements such as the installation of stop signs and repainting of crosswalks. Because of the success of this program in the Airport Neighborhood, the Modesto City School District is implementing Safe Routes policies in all elementary schools throughout the district.

  • Stanislaus County received a multi-million dollar Active Transportation Program infrastructure grant that will create Safe Routes within the community (sidewalks, bicycle paths) of the Airport Neighborhood. This project will connect parks to residential areas and schools via sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes, and lighting that currently do not exist.

  • Providing free outdoor recreation activities for families in the riverside communities. This ongoing program encourages families and youth to be physically active, to live healthy lives, and to develop leadership skills to build self-confidence so that they can become more engaged in and connected to their community.

Most recently, we have focused on developing a Safe Routes to Parks Action Plan for the Airport Neighborhood.  The purpose of this plan is to create equitable access to green spaces in Modesto’s Airport Neighborhood. TRT is also providing opportunities for growth and capacity building for community leaders to advocate for safe green spaces. As we expand this work towards the TRRP Carpenter Road area, we hope the TRRP becomes a place where families can enjoy nature and become stewards of the TRRP.

We believe that just as biodiversity ensures a healthy and functioning ecosystem, the diversity of our communities and the perspectives they share strengthen the community-based solutions that protect our water, land, and health. The purpose of this project is to not only create solutions to safer spaces along the TRRP but also for the community to enjoy the natural aspects and the benefits that the TRRP brings.  

Families would be able to enjoy nature and participate in recreation activities by the river, while also improving their well-being. As more families begin to visit and connect to the TRRP, the more community presence there will be.