By Friends of Jenny Creek
Photo: many of these trees could be cut down if a paved trail is approved
Founding member, Marcía McGetrick-West, President and Coordinator, represented the group Friends of Jenny Creek on Tuesday, March 26th at the Redding City Council meeting. Since canvassing in October/November 2023, the group now consists of more than 100 community members and homeowners who seek to protect the existing woodland and riparian habitat, and the wildlife species it provides homes to, in the narrow Jenny Creek greenbelt north of Eureka Way, between Lower and Upper Sunset residences.
The group opposes the City’s “proposed 10-12 ft wide paved, lighted, multi-use corridor trail” through the Jenny Creek greenbelt that is being considered for construction. The proposed trail would be built on the northern side of Eureka Way between Lower and Upper Sunset Terraces, going over multiple water crossings, across Jenny Creek with an 80-ft bridge connecting onto Overhill Drive, and finally going down to connect with the southern side of the Sacramento River Trail.
The Jenny Creek trail that FJC opposes was not in the 2004 General Plan nor the 2018 Parks, Trails, and Open Space master plan. The maps in both these plans included a proposed “Jenny Creek Trail,” but south of Eureka Way to Mary Lake. A “northern” proposed Jenny Creek Trail was not included in the maps until the Draft 2045 General Plan trail map. The Friends of Jenny Creek asked that this mis-mapping be corrected, and the “northern” proposed Jenny Creek Trail be removed from the 2045 General Plan. This was tabled by the City Council and staff due to their lack of knowledge of this key information that FJC pointed out with a letter from their specialized attorney.
Friends of Jenny Creek now advocates for a low-impact trail alternative to the Community Services Department’s proposed “northern” Jenny Creek Trail, one that would mitigate significant impacts to biological and water resources in the Jenny Creek Greenbelt. Friends of Jenny Creek are now working with qualified experts to develop alternative trail alignments to the City’s proposed trail.
Friends of Jenny Creek is encouraging anyone in the Lower and Upper Sunset neighborhoods, or living in Redding, to become an FJC member, sign our petition, and become involved as a volunteer for canvassing and getting the word out protesting and opposing the City’s proposed project.
To learn more FJC information, sign our petition, and get involved, we invite you to contact us through our new website:
530.246.0550
HELP SAVE AND PROTECT JENNY CREEK GREENBELT, THE HABITAT, WILDLIFE, AND ALL CONCERNED!