Linear Park and Multi-Use Path Opportunities

Residents indicated that they place a high value on linear recreation such as walking, jogging, and hiking. These survey results support Ontario’s goals of adding linear recreation facilities where possible within underutilized areas in city parks and along existing trails throughout the city. This section focuses on the creative opportunities that can help transform flood control channels, such as the existing West Cucamonga Trail, into diverse, multi-purpose facilities. An important element of this exercise was to determine where the city can add recreation elements in areas with excess right-of-way. Many times, the service roads have excess space along the shoulders that can accommodate additional amenities. Enhancements to these underutilized spaces provide new opportunities for recreation, exercise, or comfortable connections to and from parks and other local destinations. These features will also help reduce the City’s overall vehicle miles traveled and help reduce the carbon footprint. Furthermore, they help close park deficiencies identified in the level of service analysis discussed in Chapter 2. The following examples highlight successful linear park projects from Southern California and communities across the country. They showcase how multi-disciplinary efforts between planners, engineers, landscape architects, grassroots organizations, and residents can transform linear spaces throughout their communities into vibrant, utilitarian, and fun places to enjoy.

The Pacific Electric Trail is a two-mile, multi-use path found in central-east Santa Ana that provides residents recreational and transportation opportunities. Additional amenities along the trail include playground equipment and outdoor exercise stations. The trail provides connections to Downtown Santa Ana, the Pacific Electric Park, and other trail connections at its southern terminus.

The Tracks at Brea is a 50-acre, four mile long linear park that provides Brea residents recreational and transportation opportunities. The corridor features a two-way bike path, pedestrian path, outdoor exercise equipment, bike repair stations, seating areas, shade structures, themed gardens, and green infrastructure, among other amenities. The corridor was created with the help of a volunteer community task force.

The 606 is a linear park and greenway trail network found throughout northwest Chicago. The Bloomingdale Trail is the backbone to this network, providing residents recreation and transportation opportunities along its 2.7 miles. The trail was originally a railroad that was converted into a greenway after the City partnered with local neighborhood groups and The Trust for Public Land.

The BeltLine is a planned 22-mile loop of multi-use paths and parks that will eventually connect 45 neighborhoods in Atlanta along railroad corridors that once serviced the city. As of 2019, the BeltLine consists of five trails and seven parks that welcome approximately two million visitors each year. The BeltLine was a grassroots initiative of local citizens and leaders to create a comprehensive approach to transportation, land use, open space, and sustainability.

Exercise equipment and playground features along Santa Ana’s PE Trail

Outdoor exercise equipment along The Tracks at Brea

Site furnishings and lighting along Chicago’s Bloomingdale Trail Art installations along the Atlanta BeltLine path