Los Angeles County Public Works is inviting the public to review and provide feedback on the newly released San Gabriel Valley Greenway Network Strategic Implementation Plan, which aims to create more bike paths, walkways and park space.

Public Works released the draft of the plan on March 27, 2025, and people are invited to comment on the Plan through April 26 of this year.

“We are not just planning for green spaces, but fostering stronger, more connected neighborhoods,” Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and Supervisor for the First District, said.

The draft plan engages 30 cities across the San Gabriel Valley to accelerate the development of greenways, designed to balance the creation of accessible parks and open spaces with critical flood risk management and floodplain resiliency. The county hopes the draft Plan will act as a guide for local communities within the SGV, since it offers resources to support the development of future projects.

The plan is also designed to enhance mobility, increase recreational opportunities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and integrate stormwater capture and water management solutions.

The county said stakeholder input to the plan was gathered through a steering committee of 13 agencies, 8 public workshops, 18 community pop-up events, and partnerships with non-profit organizations at 71 local events, connecting with thousands of LA County residents in person.

ActiveSGV is a local non-profit dedicated to supporting a more sustainable and equitable San Gabriel Valley. The organization, which has worked for years to create more bike paths and active, pedestrian and cyclist accessibility in the area, is one of the county’s partners in developing the Plan.

Wesley Reutimann, Deputy Director of ActiveSGV, said the idea of creating a regional network of greenways has been in development for over a decade, and there is a huge amount of potential to build on existing greenways in the area.

“ The importance is really helping give the public additional, safe, viable alternatives to get around,” Reutimann said. “It often can be much more challenging to put a multi-use path, a separated walking and bicycle path on an existing street. And this is underutilized space that’s currently available and present and provides this opportunity to create not only a network of active transportation, multi-use paths, but also new, linear park space.”

Reutimann mentioned the Plan will provide the public with more recreational opportunities, but also commuting ones. The proposed network provides safe routes to many schools and universities within close proximity.

The Plan is also an environmental justice mission, according to both Solis and Reutimann.

“The Greenway Network bisects some of the most pollution burdened communities in the United States,” Reutimann said. “By default, creating this new linear park space within these communities– many of which not only suffer from very high pollution burden, air pollution, water pollution, et cetera– they also lack park space and lack urban tree canopy. So there are opportunities to support the health and wellbeing of those communities.”

Much of the land the Plan proposes to develop exists already as dirt paths. By building infrastructure on existing paths, the public will have easier access to safe methods of activity and transportation.

Reutimann encouraged people to access the Plan with their own communities in mind, finding the potential projects closest to them and learning how they can support. He also recommended that the public become familiar with existing greenways so they can see the benefits of similar projects.

He even recommended a specific bike route he used to take as a child. Take the A-line train to Duarte/City of Hope, and there’s a bike path across from the station one can take all the way to Long Beach. If you’re worried about cycling or carpooling back up, the train back to Duarte is an option.

“ I remember when I did as a kid, I grew up in the area and it’s one of those activities you do and the first time you do it, you never forget about the time you rode all the way to the beach.”

Anyone looking to review the plan and provide feedback can do so at www.sgvgreenway.org/explore-the-network.

For those interested in experiencing greenways, ActiveSGV hosts regular family-friendly community rides along the Greenway Network. Find out more information at www.activesgv.org/events.