San Vicente Redwoods receives huge boost in fundraising efforts

Photo: Mark Davidson, MBoSC

Photo: Mark Davidson, MBoSC

Santa Cruz Bicycles, a world-renowned, California-based mountain bike manufacturer, recently donated $500,000 earmarked toward the creation ofย close toย 40ย miles of multi-use trails in theย San Vicente Redwoods located just north of Santa Cruz, California. This gift was matched by an anonymous donor, making significant headway toward meeting fundraising goals.

The plan calls for multi-use trails benefiting mountain bikers, equestrians and hikers, including canine friends. Trails are projected to open by 2018.

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz, the entity coordinating the San Vicente trail plan, emphasizes that the plan includes a significant amountย of “open property” to support wildlife and sensitive areas.ย The Land Trust is also working to raiseย $20 million forย projectsย that include a wildlife tunnel under a busy highway through the Santa Cruz mountains (Highway 17)ย and the “rail trail” running alongside the coastal railroadย in Santa Cruz County.

Additional fundraising for Santa Cruz trails was kicked off recently by trail advocacy organization Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBoSC) and Santa Cruz Bicycles. Santa Cruz Bicycles is contributing a bike โ€“ any bike from their current web catalog โ€“ to be raffled off by MBoSC. Tickets may be purchased at the 2016 Sea Otter Classic April 14-17 at the Santa Cruz Bicycles booth #550 as well as other events such asย MBoSC trail work days and Girls Rock at Epicenter on Sunday May 15. Tickets are also available on-line at mbosc.org.ย The campaign endsย at the Santa Cruz Old Cabin Classic โ€“ the first cross-country mountain bike race at Wilder Ranch since 1993. Learn more at mbosc.org.