Creekside Walkway Planned for Soquel

County leaders want feedback from Soquel residents on plans for two relatively small parcels between Soquel Creek and the Soquel Village business district.

Designs for the so-called Heart of Soquel project are still being finalized, but the project is expected to include a trail along the creek to give pedestrians a safer way to walk around Soquel, a new park, aesthetic upgrades to the alleyway behind businesses between Porter Street and the creek, and more off-street parking.

"I was very excited to learn there was talk of a path along the creek to Capitola," wrote Michelle Bradley, a member of the Soquel Neighborhood Association, who responded to an e-mail from Capitola-Soquel Patch. "This would be huge to reduce congestion and encourage hikes, bikes, strollers, dogs and neighbors meeting with each other on a common path."

The upgrades, which are an estimated two or three years away from completion, have been planned for two decades.

The project will be located on the former flood-prone Heart of Soquel mobile home park and a nearby site. It was first envisioned in the Soquel Village Plan, which was drafted with community input and adopted by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in 1990.

The Santa Cruz County Redevelopment Agency bought the 1.2-acre mobile home park in 1993 and relocated the tenants out of the flood zone. The project will also include an adjacent, nearly half-acre property next to the former Soquel Grange Hall.

The goals listed in that Soquel Village Plan include flood control, creek enhancements, pedestrian access, traffic safety, economic development, parking improvements and preserving the historic character of Soquel Village. Many of those concepts are included in the Heart of Soquel project plans, which are also known as the Soquel Creek Linear Park and Parking Improvement project.

Many Soquelites are well aware of both the Soquel Village Plan and the Heart of Soquel project. Local residents participated in seven community meetings to help shape the Soquel Village Plan. They also also provided input for the Soquel Creek  project at several meetings, the most recent one taking place last month.

In October, staff of the redevelopment agency presented three different conceptual plans for the site. About 100 people provided their input and opinions on the various versions of the project.

"The next step is taking that input and consolidating it into refined plans that we will bring back to the community in the spring," said Betsy Lynberg, director of the county redevelopment agency. "We want a conceptual design that captures the community's vision."

Community support for the project has been strong, as has participation, she said.

Residents were excited about the proposed creekside trail, which could eventually run between the foot bridge connecting Main Street to the rear of Soquel Elementary School to the Heart of Soquel and beyond, she added.

Residents were mixed on the suggestion that the proposed park include a civic plaza where farmers' markets, outdoor concerts or festivals could be held. While many embraced the idea enthusiastically, others were worried that a plaza would not be practical, because it would exacerbate traffic and parking problems in Soquel.

"Anything that would draw a large crowd would put Soquel at a standstill and gridlock in terms of parking," Vivian Fenner-Evans wrote. "I think it would be much better to have a place where folks can walk, enjoy the creek, have a picnic and stroll to Carpos or Sunnyside Produce on foot instead of driving."

Concerns that the project would increase traffic also has made some residents skeptical of the overall project.

Once a plan is finalized, redevelopment agency staff will work with property owners and members of the business community to obtain necessary easements. Environmental documents will also be required before the project breaks ground.