Arroyo Seco master plan touted
By Becky Oskin
Staff Writer

PASADENA -- Plans to add new lakes, parking and trails to Pasadena's most famous canyon are part of an Arroyo Seco master plan preview released Friday.

The summary brings together items previously considered by the city council during the three-year planning period leading up to the final master plan and Environmental Impact Report.

"There's a number of people following the whole process and they asked us to put it all into one document," said city project manager Brian League.

Environmental groups said the summary will help them compare different projects and prepare to analyze the master plan.

The final plan will be released within about a month, League said. The master plan is designed to help define and guide the historic arroyo's future, from public access to pristine wildlife habitat.

The Arroyo Seco runs through Pasadena via Devil's Gate Dam, near the Foothill (210) Freeway, to the Los Angeles River at Elysian Fields. Pasadena's $1 million-plus plan will cover its 14- mile stretch from the Angeles National Forest to the southern city limits.

The 64-page report includes a complete list of restoration proposals and public projects under consideration, such as new public restrooms, soccer fields and bridges linking trails along the canyon's edge -- even a children's mud-hole play area.

Altadena Foothills Conservancy president Nancy Steele said she was pleased to see links between the canyon's trails. Steele is also a fan of proposals for two new lakes north of the dam.

But several large parking lots and three new roadway entrances in the same area have Steele concerned about increased traffic. Though she would like to see more people using the northern arroyo, the amount of land devoted to parking may be excessive, she said.

"I worry they're focusing too much on car access. It's really a nicely situated park for bike and equestrian access," Steele said.

-- Becky Oskin can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4451, or by e-mail at becky.oskin@sgvn.com