Press Release

Sen. Blakespear Presents Check to Mission Viejo for Oso Creek Trail

Photo of check presentation.

Sen. Catherine Blakespear presents check to Mission Viejo Mayor Bob Ruesch.

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. – Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, presented a check on Friday to the City of Mission Viejo to fund an expansion of the popular Oso Creek Trail as part of an effort to make the community more walkable.

A strong advocate of making cities more bicycle and pedestrian friendly, Sen. Blakespear secured $1.175 million from this year’s state budget for the project. The Oso Creek Trail project will help improve the quality of life in Mission Viejo by extending a much-beloved trail to provide better connectivity and more outdoor recreational opportunities for residents. 

“I am happy I was able to help secure the remaining funding for this wonderful project in Mission Viejo that will expand and enhance the Oso Creek Trail,” Sen. Blakespear said. “I applaud Mission Viejo for working to connect its core with a trail system that encourages exercise and takes advantage of the city’s natural beauty.” 

“The Oso Creek Trail is a natural amenity that has long been cherished by people of all ages from Mission Viejo and well beyond,” Mission Viejo Mayor Bob Ruesch said. “It’s an essential part of the fabric of our beautiful community and something so many dedicated people have been working to enhance. I am excited that this new funding will benefit our iconic trail for many years to come.”

The project will:

  • Add ½ mile of pedestrian trail from La Paz to Marguerite Parkway
  • Include 20,000 square feet of landscaping and irrigation, lighting and split rail ranch fencing
  • Create a creek viewing deck with educational signage, seating and a shade structure
  • Build a pedestrian bridge to connect the east and west sides of the trail
  • Clean up Oso Creek by removing trash, debris and invasive vegetation to ensure the creek is environmentally sound and flowing freely

Blakespear represents Senate District 38, which covers coastal and northern San Diego County and south Orange County. To learn more about the district and Sen. Blakespear, visit her Senate website.