Runners, walkers, and cyclists enjoyed themselves on Sunday, October 11, when a 6.4 mile portion of Niles Canyon Road was closed to vehicles so they could use it.
The route, which runs between Main Street in Sunol and Old Canyon Road in Fremont, was the site of the first ever ‘Niles Canyon Stroll & Roll’.
Organized by Alameda County supervisors Richard Valle and Scott Haggerty, the event brought out about 10,000 participants, who walked or rode the trail from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. The response was larger than had been anticipated, according to Haggerty's deputy chief of staff, Dawn Argula.
The event might be seen as a preview of what it might be like to have such a trail available to members of the community. A multiuse trail that goes through Niles Canyon is in the planning stages. The project would create a 10-foot wide, paved path for bicyclists, pedestrians, and perhaps even equestrians to spend time in the beautiful canyon.
A feasibility study about the canyon trail could be released some time in November. Once a route is agreed on, costs can be determined and funding approved.
Event organizers might like to work with a booklet printing company to create a mailer for residents, including sketches of the proposed trail and descriptions of the flora and fauna, to encourage support for the project.
