Petition for the L Street Pathway
to become a permanent Linear Park

We support the existing L Street bicycle-pedestrian pathway be officially designated as a Linear Park, from Alliance Road to Samoa Boulevard, and that this Linear Park be preserved and enhanced as a green space for recreation, play, and community.

We also support the spoken recommendation from the Chair of the Arcata Transportation Safety Committee at its August 2, 2022, meeting: “Revise the circulation plan that eliminates L Street as being considered for new streets and car traffic. This area is recommended to become a car-free Linear Park that prioritizes people.”

For more information or to sign this petition by e-mail:

arcatalinearpark.org 

Contact:  arcatalinearpark@gmail.com

What is the L Street Pathway?

The L Street Pathway could be a community jewel in the heart of the Gateway area.

The December 2021 draft Gateway Plan shows L Street as a high-traffic road, taking all the southbound car and truck volume from Alliance Road to Samoa Boulevard.

Can you envision a “walking mall” with restaurants and shops, activities and entertainment, located along a tree-lined linear park? 

The parcels along what is proposed as “L Street” may be among the first to actually be developed.  Such as:

• Where AmeriGas now is at 6-7th at K Street
• The lot behind the former Tomas building on L
• The storage units that are caddy-corner from the Creamery Building
• The Ag Sales building at 11th & L

With an L Street Linear Park, these sites would be re-developed with park-facing storefronts and pedestrian-oriented buildings.  Just imagine how delightful this area could be. It is already delightful. It is a vast opportunity for Arcata to create a focus for vibrant life, for tourism, for the arts, for our people.  

It’s what cities all over the world are striving to achieve, and it’s right here ready for us in our own town.  Unless, of course, our City determines it really needs to be turned into a designated southbound truck route.

This is a big topic, but when it comes down to the basics it’s actually fairly simple. It’s a question of priorities. What do we want to see in Arcata? Do we make our roads better for cars, or do we make the Gateway area better for people? 

In the words of Dave Ryan
Chair of the Arcata Transportation Safety Committee,
from January 18, 2022:

“I think it’d be a missed opportunity [not] to turn this into a people-gathering place for bikers, walkers.

I see cafes there in the future, bakeries, little music venues, kids on bikes, parks, parklets, outdoor tables, and then at night… it transforms.

There’s lighting and there are people coming through and walking and having dinner and bringing their relatives from out of town on a great walk through there, and they’re not dealing with cars.”

More information about
the L Street Pathway and Linear Park