The Morongo Basin is connected by Highway 62, but one local resident is hoping that a bike path may one day connect the communities from Morongo Valley to Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree National Park. Managing editor Tami Roleff said last night, Yucca Valley Town Council members heard about a vision for the Morongo Basin Pathway…
“I’ve had a number of student say that they wished they could bicycle to and from the school, but they felt that the highway wasn’t safe.” Greg Gilbert, a former professor at Copper Mountain College and trustee at the college, told council members that while a project like a bike path from Morongo Valley to Twentynine Palms would be expensive, financial aid is available. “It seems that there are fund available. The state and federal government want to fund. There’s money out there…. A lot of the help we can get would be completely forgivable.” Gilbert has contacted officials from the county, local governments, the college, Joshua Tree National Park, the Marine Base, and bicycle enthusiasts. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm about this from elected and appointed officials.” He added that the Morongo Basin Pathway bike enthusiasts from out of the area would drive to the Morongo Basin to bike the proposed pathway, and that the path would benefit the communities. “This is an opportunity to do something that is going to be a legacy, it’s going to serve generations to come, and it’s going to help pull all of our communities together..” The council members directed staff to support the proposal and to coordinate efforts to have the Morongo Basin Pathway brought forward at meetings held by various transportation agencies.
In other business, the council also approved plans for improvements at Paradise Park, to include a paved circular path around the park, two full basketball courts (or a full basketball court and pickleball courts), benches, and shade structures. Adding turf has been placed on hold due to the drought.
celebrated the new playground equipment at Jacob’s Park by holding a ribbon cutting. Here Council Member Robert Lombardo slides down the new
slide at the park.
cutting at Jacob’s Park Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the new playground
equipment at the park.
From left: Rick Denison, Town Manager Curtis Yakimow, Bob Leone, Laurine Silver, Mayor George Huntington, Gregory Hill, and Merl Abel. In back, Robert Lombardo.
