Accessing Hercules Open Space, Respectfully

Last week, I attended the Hercules City Council meeting in which a hearing was being held as a result of an appeal filed by an HOA against the Franklin Canyon Open Space Project.  The hearing was reported here by the CC Times.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_23722280/hercules-council-rejects-appeal-franklin-c...

Some folks were concerned that their neighborhoods could fall victim to crime, noise, and traffic problems if proper measures were not taken to alleviate such.  What I witnessed were folks who embraced the concept of increasing accessibility to the Canyon space, but who simply wanted to be protected from any possible ill-consequences of the increased access.  These were good citizens I was hearing, not the standard ornery NIMBY kind of folks.

I found the discussion very uplifting because the overall message was that the citizens of Hercules, including children and grandchildren, were going to have greater access to our natural treasure.   I envisioned my daughter's future biology class taking a field trip on these trails for an ecology lesson.   I also envisioned healthy folks hiking and jogging and cycling, along with the equestrians.   

One old timer, Mr. Chuck Lewis, generously offered access to the hills from his street, Christie Avenue, off of Hwy 4.  He shared his wonderful experience of having witnessed seeing the endangered Alameda Whip Snake, on a nearby trail.  He wanted all of us to have this same experience.  Read about them here http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/reptiles/Alameda_whipsnake/
I drove out to his neck of the woods, and it was definitely not easily accessible, in comparison to some of the potential access points in Hercules proper.  

I then took a gander at some of the current potential access points and gates around Hercules.  Here are some pics I took.
http://herculesopenspaceaccess.blogspot.com/

The first thing I noticed was a sign designating one area as Federal property, that I was to KEEP OUT.  Yet, on this property hung a rope swing, and nearby, was a log bench.  Talk about mixed messages.  

I then visited Grissom.  The HOA was serious about not having any visitors as evidenced by so much signage.  I thought to myself, having a parking lot at the entrance way isn't a good way to deter folks.  Kind of like the rope swing.  It looks like a staging area!  But the multiple signs made it clear that it was not, so I packed my granola away and got back into my car. 

The adjacent Coronado St. seems more appropriate for a staging area as it appears wider, with some space away from the homes. With Grissom, I definitely felt like I was invading their privacy by standing at the gate which as very close to a few of the homes.  

Regarding Coronado, apparently there is some law (something akin to the snooze you lose law) that says if the City hasn't made plans within 15 years to extend the road, then the HOA becomes sole owner of that access point.  I must ask, what has the HOA done with that area?  All I see is weeds and barbed wire.  Maybe Refugio Valley Rd is the ideal access point.  It seems less folks will be inconvenienced.  

The issue of crime and nuisance behavior was raised.  I saw evidence of this, including serious amounts of garbage dumped on one trail, and even some graffiti.  There was also a leather chair sticking out of the weeds.  I grew up next to a similar preserve area.  As a young kid, I enjoyed hiking and turning over rocks, looking for lizards and scorpions.  In High School, it wasn't uncommon for some folks (who shall remain nameless) to lug a keg of beer up on the ridge, and then make a whole lot of racket during all hours of the night, resulting in pursuits by the police and prompting one neighbor to bring out his shot gun.  You get the picture.  The concerns raised by some citizens at the Council meeting are valid.  

I look forward to enjoying the Franklin Canyon project, but it will be most enjoyable if we address everyone's concerns in the process.