Arcata Arcata & Community Gateway Plan Important Topics L Street Linear Park The Street Linear Park - Overview

The L Street Linear Park Petition – over 1,170 names so far

April 9, 2023

James Becker and Patricia Cambianica have been collecting signatures of people in favor of the L Street Linear Park. As of August, 2023, they have gathered over 1,170 people’s names.

You can visit their website, learn more, and sign the petition at arcatalinearpark.org . For additional information and maps of the L Street Linear park, see here on the Arcata1.com website.

At the March 14, 2023, meeting of the Arcata Planning Commission, Jim showed the commissioners just what these signatures look like.

Here is the text of what Jim said to the commissioners at that meeting:

Hello to Commissioners and staff. My name is James Becker. I’ve been working with community members to circulate a petition for the L Street pathway to become a Linear Park. The language is as follows:

We support the existing L Street bicycle-pedestrian pathway be officially designated as a Linear Park, from Alliance Road to Samoa Boulevard, and that this Linear Park be preserved and enhanced as a green space for recreation, play, and community. We also support the spoken recommendation from the Chair of the Arcata Transportation Safety Committee at its August 2, 2022 meeting: “Revise the circulation plan that eliminates L Street as being considered for new streets and car traffic. This area is recommended to become a car-free Linear Park that prioritizes people.”

I wish to provide an update on the petition for the designation of L Street Rails With Trails corridor as a Linear Park — a linear park that relies on open spaces and the right of way of the existing railroad corridor. To best serve Arcata’s future infill, the greater Humboldt Bay area, and the Great Redwood Trail and beyond.

Signers include previous City Council members and mayors, business members, architects, members of the local Sierra Club North group, the broad spectrum of customers visiting the Co-op including out of town visitors, community members of all ages, including Cal Poly students, signers from neighborhoods around Arcata. The online petition signatures are close to 100, including primarily Arcata residents. Many have walked the path and understand what will be permanently lost by paving over the open spaces. They also appreciate what is possible by utilizing those open spaces for a Linear Park.

I don’t want to take up too much more time tonight. But I do want to take up a little bit of space in the Chamber. And with that said, I want to update you on the petition at present. There are 553 signers. This represents one signature line, this is about six signature lines. And I’m going to take the rest of my time to go and scroll this for the signature. There are a total of 553. And please take that into consideration that a lot of folks do support it. And they did give a lot of positive input on it.