The folks at Lassen Land and Trails Trust have another big project underway, a project that when complete will transform a desolate chunk of Susanville real estate into a showpiece and provide new recreational opportunities near the Trust’s historic railroad depot and visitor’s center on Richmond Road. The organization is looking for public input to help make plans for the undeveloped former railroad grade between Richmond Road and Alexander Avenue, which will connect the nationally known Bizz Johnson Trail with the county’s planned Skyline Extension bike trail.
“It’s your trail and historic depot and your ideas are so important to the trail’s development and to how this property serves our community,” explained LL&TT Executive Director Louise Jensen.
Lassen Land and Trails Trust owns and manages the historic Susanville railroad depot as a trailhead visitor center for the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail. The existing Depot site is 1.3 acres, and the Trust has also acquired the Bizz Extension property, a 7.1-acre parcel behind the depot to Alexander Avenue.
Together with the existing depot site, the extension will now serve as the expanded depot property, and the Trust is working to create plans for the space in order to better serve residents and visitors to Susanville.
“As neighbors and trail users,” says Jensen, “we value your ideas on how the expanded depot property should be developed as part of our trail system and as a small park in our community.”
To this end the Trust has created a survey to gather ideas for the project. The survey takes only minutes to fill out, is only 6 questions long, and gives you a chance to have your opinion counted as LL&TT begins their exciting new endeavor. Click here to head over to the survey.
Forward Progress
The Trust has laid a tremendous amount of groundwork for the project. Using funds from the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Trails program and resources from their organization’s reserves the group purchased the formerly private property between the depot and Alexander Ave. Discussions have been held with the City of Susanville, Lassen County, Bureau of Land Management and the depot’s neighbors about making the Bizz Johnson Extension a community resource and trail connection.
The Trust’s members and other supporters have generously donated to assist in the initial planning and stabilization of the property. “In fact,” added Jensen, “the Trust’s members donated nearly half of the $20,000 goal for the initial phase to stabilize the property.”
Last year, according to the Trust’s records, more than 3,000 visitors from across the nation visited the trail and it’s interpretive center at the depot. “Extending the trail to Alexander Avenue,” explains Jensen, “will provide a key link in our community’s expanding trail network, connecting the Bizz Johnson Trail via Alexander Avenue to the Susan River Greenbelt Trail, the Skyline Trail and neighborhoods on the northern side of Susanville.
Open House Planned for April 24th
The National Park Service’s Rivers, Conservation and Trails team will be in Susanville on April 24th and 25th to lend their expertise to our community – developing and refining plans for the new property and integrating it, the depot and the Bizz Johnson trailhead. There will be an Open House at the depot for the community to stop by and meet the National Park Service’s team. The Open House is scheduled for Friday afternoon, April 24th, from 4:00 to 6:00.
Take the Survey! Your opinion matters!
Let your voice be heard by clicking here and following the link to the 6 question survey. Your input will be greatly appreciated and taken into account as plans are made for this exciting new project.
For more information you can visit the Trust online at www.lassenlandandtrailstrust.org or call 257-3252.
