May 7 5K Run/walk will give public glimpse of new park lands—see it first in our ECM video adventure
By Miriam Raftery
Photos by Pam Wilmer
Video by Billy Ortiz
April 27, 2011 (Santee) – San Diego River Run is moving its 5K fun run/walk to the Walker Lakes property in Santee this year. Participants will be the first members of the public to experience this site, which will soon become part of the San Diego River Trail, which is not yet open to the public.
East County Magazine’s Billy Ortiz got a special preview tour. View his video adventure here.
The City of Santee just approved purchase of the 125-acre Walker Lakes property, stretching from Magnolia Avenue hnear the RCP Block & Brick plant to the city’s eastern boundary. The former sand-mining site is being restored to provide wildlife habitat while connecting Lakeside to Santee with trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
County Supervisor Dianne Jacob calls Walker Lakes “a stunning piece of property.” She will be in attendance at the San Diego River Run, which will take participants from the new Lakeside Baseball Park to Magnolia Avenue along the banks of Walker Lakes and the San Diego River. She expressed gratitude to the family for opening up the site to the public.
The San Diego River Run 5K is an annual run/walk each May that highlights different segments of the San Diego River Trail. As each segment of the River Trail is developed, the race will continually expand until someday it will stretch from the base of El Capitan Dam in Lakeside to Dog Beach at the sea.
“This event is about getting the community involved to support a great cause, create lasting memories and to get people motivated to use recreational facilities that are right in their backyards,” said Robin Rierdan, executive director of Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy.
The 5K run will take place starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 7th. Proceeds raised will benefit expansion of the trail on this site. For more information, run registration or to donate, visit www.SDRiverRun.org.