Adelanto Opening a New Walking Trail at Richardson Park

Staff Writer

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017

Share this:

ADELANTO – Adelanto once was only known as a small, low-income, and financially struggling city in the High Desert. Fortunately, things are looking up for the small misunderstood city with ‘Unlimited Possibilities’. The potential may have always been there, but thanks to the new city council things are finally moving forward.

With new businesses bringing jobs and development just about everywhere you turn, it is no wonder why property values continue to rise. Less than half a year from the opening of the third dog park in the High Desert, Adelanto is now better serving the community by giving them a reason to get out and get moving. That’s right, an official Walking Trail is coming to Richardson Park. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be on Tuesday, May 9, 2017.

The quarter-mile Walking Trail was made possible thanks to a generous $25,000 grant from the Mojave Water Agency, and a joint construction effort between the Public Works crews, Mark and Nellies Nursery and Project Contractor J/T Constriction.

“We are continually looking for ways to improve the quality of life—and the quality of health for our residents, and the benefits of walking have been talked about for years,” said Mayor Richard Kerr. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, regular exercise is a proven way to decrease the risk of heart disease, help manage high blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol and keeps the blood flowing smoothly. It can also help prevent and manage type 3 diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain cancers.

The Richardson Park Walking Trail will circle the soccer field at the park and will be bordered by concrete. Adelanto city officials said that the trail will use 176 scoops; each scoop equaling a tractor bucket, of environmentally friendly decomposed granite (DG) . “ DG provides good drainage, it’s inexpensive, and helps to keep dust down,” said Don Wappler, Public Services Manager.
Sensitive nature of DG, and to prolong its lifespan, bicycles, skateboards, and scooters are prohibited from using the trail. “We’re hoping that users will observe the honor system and use the trail only for walking purposes,” said Kerr. Like the park, the walking trail will be open to walkers of all ages from dawn to dusk. City officials are looking at ways to develop trails at other parks in the city, but no tentative plans have been announced, pending obtaining new funding sources.