Highways connect us, but also divide the land and create barriers to safe passage for both wildlife and people. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, California state route 17 (Highway 17) fragments thousands of acres of open space, limiting the ability of wildlife to find food, mates and habitat, as well as preventing the completion of several regional trail systems. Together with private and public partners, neighbors and District constituents, Midpen is exploring the feasibility of developing two independent road crossings - a wildlife undercrossing and recreational trail overcrossing - to link over 30,000 acres of protected public lands.
The project also includes directional fencing that will help animals safely find their way to the wildlife crossing and a number of regional trail connections that will link the following Santa Clara County parks and Midpen open space preserves together across Highway 17: Sanborn County Park, El Sereno Preserve, Lexington Reservoir County Park, St. Joseph's Hill Preserve, Sierra Azul Preserve and Almaden Quicksilver County Park.
Public Meeting: May 22, 2024 at 5 p.m.
At the board of directors meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 5 p.m. Midpen staff will give a presentation on the multiuse trail overcrossing alternatives for the Highway 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossings Project. The board of directors will receive public comments and select a preferred overcrossing alternative to advance.
Learn how to join the meeting, provide public comment and read the staff report using the link below.