Campbell studies new trail proposal
Two-mile path controlled by the water district could be school route
CAMPBELL — City officials are looking at adding a new trail along San Tomas Aquino Creek.
The city is targeting a 2mile stretch near the creek beginning at Westmont Avenue in San Jose and ending at Virginia Avenue in Campbell. Earlier this year the city put out a call for design proposals.
The area in question is fenced off and locked up. It is controlled by the Santa Clara Valley Water District. If the city were to design and build a trail, it is unclear if Campbell would lease the 2 miles from the water district as it currently does with its portion of the Los Gatos Creek Trail.
If a trail is constructed, it could serve as a school route for students at Westmont High School or Forest Hill Elementary School and a recreational attraction for the neighborhood.
Fred Ho, the city’s senior civil engineer and construction and capital projects manager, said if a trail were built, it would not be high use like the Los Gatos Creek Trail.
The city has held community meetings to gauge residents’ interest and hear concerns. The first meeting was held in June, and a second forum last month saw city staff, police officers, and representatives from the city of San Jose respond to residents’ concerns.
“Two main concerns were safety and privacy,” Ho said.
Residents have also voiced concern over potential noise and vandalism issues for neighbors along the trail.
“We’re still trying to decipher some of the comments we received at the last meeting so we can provide responses and additional information to residents,” Ho said, adding that residents are still able to send their comments to the city.
The city has tapped Callandar Associates, a landscape architecture firm, as the project consultant.
“Everything is still very preliminary,” Ho said, adding the city will continue gathering community feedback to judge the feasibility of the project and explore possible designs.