VENTURA RIVER TRAIL
Ventura, California

Project Background:
In late 2021, the City of Ventura reached out to PCLD to assist in an application to the first ever Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP). Initially, PCLD helped identify potential projects that would be competitive. This effort involved identifying projects, both from within the City’s existing Capital Improvements Program and from other community identified improvement priorities. Ultimately, the Ventura River Trail Improvements Project, a 1.85-mile-long stretch of the existing multi-use trail in Ventura’s Westside neighborhood, was identified as a project that met existing needs within a grant prioritized disadvantaged community. In a very brief six-week effort, PCLD took the project from an idea with no documentation support to a 30% design package, providing all the required grant application documentation. The major improvements incorporated include 1.85-miles of trail repaving, over 11,000 linear feet of architectural fencing, and 79 solar powered lights. The project will also include stormwater BMP improvements, trail amenities, upgraded connections, and wayfinding signage. The documentation for the grant included a project narrative, demonstrated needs/outcomes assessment, complicated local match calculation, and an extremely detailed cost estimate. PCLD also coordinated a brief engagement campaign that included an outreach meeting, a digital survey, and an online-interactive whiteboard. The successful engagement garnered greater than 98% support with over 400 respondents and 19 letters of support from local agencies, non-profits, and political leaders. In March of 2022, the project was awarded $4,999,188 to continue the project through the design process and ultimately construct the improvements by the June 2024 grant deadline.