Return access to public
I have been running along the river for years. I especially enjoy running on the dirt horse trails on the north side of the river.
Before the construction of the Park at Riverwalk, Aera Park and the new canal, we runners enjoyed excellent access. We no longer do. Right now, if we are running west on the north side of the river, the trail ends at a fence near Aera Park, and we have no way to continue west. If we are running east on the bike path, we have no way to continue our run on the north side.
This is unacceptable. The law says that the public has the right of access to public rivers. From what I understand, the city mentioned the access issue to the Kern County Water Agency and the agency members who also sit on the board for Southwest Baseball, a tenant of the Aera Park property. The city received assurances that access would be maintained, but this has not happened.
Why does Southwest Baseball get to enjoy a sweetheart park deal, while the runners, cyclist and equestrians who used those trails for years get blocked access?
KCWA should have installed safe fencing before blocking access. Since they didn't, access needs to be restored. This is actually a simple matter of an pedestrian gate. Please correct this problem as soon as possible.
MICHELLE BECK
Bakersfield
