Entrant id 7116
Context
Trestles Wetland and Natural Preserve: situated on a major interstate and rail corridor connecting LA and San Diego, serves as a huge destination spot for more than 300,000 surfers, spectators, and beach goers per year. Trestles location is ideal for holding major surfing events, but it also creates an opportunity to give valuable knowledge of the coastal environment and local history to all its visitors.
Ending at Trestles, the San Mateo Creek bed is nearly the last unspoiled in Southern California. The site contains several different coastal plant communities and endangered wildlife habitats, while also functioning as one of the last remaining wildlife corridors connecting the Cleveland National Forest to the Pacific Ocean. Destructive foot traffic through wetland areas and a number of non-native invasive species have begun to threaten the critically important balance at Trestles.
Midway access to the Trestle stretch of beach is dangerous and destructive. The new access path will promote restoration and preservation of the delicate wetland environments via education, a predetermined pedestrian pathway, and strict restoration/preservation boundaries for visitors. The path will also eliminate danger for visitors by taking them over the hazardous rail line and safely to the beach below. Along the path at prime viewing spot special “nodes” occur where coastal environment and historical education associated with the view is also available.
The Trestles Midway Access Path stems from the existing parking at Old Pacific Coast Highway along the elevated, established pathway. The Entry Node will give initial ecological information to the visitors of Trestles as well as present the view over the restoration and preservation areas. Further Viewing Nodes exist along the pathway educating visitors through interpretive signage, hands on learning exhibits, while incorporating the learning material with the view. The Bluff Node will represent the largest node of the path and displays the most dramatic view. The path continues from Bluff Node to bridge the railway, lowers to beach level, and without disturbing any of the natural areas of the preserve.
Preservation and Restoration areas exist in view of the pathway and throughout the site. The goal is to restore these habitats to the healthiest possible. This relies strongly on the absence of the current human destruction by the way of limiting human interferences.
