Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade Completes New Safe-Route-To-School Trail

Community-driven project connects neighborhoods and improves pedestrian safety

The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade, in partnership with Santa Barbara County Public Works and neighborhood funders, has completed a new safe-route-to-school trail in the footprint of the 2018 Montecito Debris Flow. 

The San Leandro Neighborhood Trail connects the existing multi-use trail that runs from Summerland to the Ennisbrook Open Space to Santa Rosa Lane in Montecito.

“The community wanted this trail so badly that neighbors got together and raised the funds to build it. The Montecito Neighborhood Trail Network is NOT funded by the government, it is funded by the community – for the community,” said Abe Powell CEO, CoFounder Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade.

 This new, quarter mile long trail and lighted crosswalk was constructed in support of the Montecito Walk To School Trail Program developed by the Montecito Association, Montecito Fire and local schools. The San Leandro Neighborhood Trail is a part of the Montecito Neighborhood Trail Network (MNTN) that has been under development by the Bucket Brigade since the Thomas Fire and Debris Flow disaster response began in January of 2018.

“When we complete a new path, it’s one more link in a system that makes Montecito a more walkable community and improves connectivity to schools, parks, and businesses. We look forward to working with the Bucket Brigade on more walking paths and other potential additions to the Montecito trail network,” said Chris Sneddon, Director Santa Barbara County Public Works.

To date, the Bucket Brigade has completed 3.5 miles of new roadside trails in the areas affected by the debris flow as part of an ongoing effort to build community resilience, reduce risk, improve evacuation route safety, and increase community connection. Over 1155 volunteers have contributed 4,447 hours in community trail restoration and construction projects.

The goal of the MNTN is to create an 8-mile network of trails that connect all of the schools, churches, businesses and parks with safer,  pedestrian access.

“In pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, people are more connected. After the fire and debris flow and during the pandemic we learned how important that connection was. The Bucket Brigade is built on community connection and a steadfast commitment to safety, cooperation and resilience,” said Powell.

The Montecito Community Plan defines the “semi-rural” aesthetic of Montecito as ‘narrow winding roads with no street lights or sidewalks.” As a result, very few roadside pedestrian pathways exist in the area.  After a series of accidents and fatal injuries, neighbors became concerned that the lack of roadside pathways was a cause for concern and was preventing parents from letting their children walk to school or even around their own neighborhoods.

In 2010 The Montecito Association, Santa Barbara County, Montecito Fire, Montecito Trails Foundation, Cold Spring School and Montecito Union School crafted and adopted the Montecito Walk To School Trail Program to remove encroachments along the road right-of-way and to create pedestrian trails along roadways.

In 2010, Santa Barbara County Public Works adapted the Roadway Enhancement Partnership Project (REPP) permit system to enable residents and organizations to begin roadside clearing and trail construction to support the new Trail Program.

In 2018, Santa Barbara County First District conducted a post-disaster recovery survey of the affected community and the results were surprising. The most popular response regarding rebuilding goals turned out to be “restoration and improvement of pedestrian and bicycle access.”

The Bucket Brigade responded immediately, restoring 5 miles of existing local trails and clearing 66 acres of debris from public open spaces.

Post-Disaster Trail Construction History:

• 2019: The first new roadside trail was constructed along North Jameson Road2020:  A new trail was built on Olive Mill Road
• 2021 – 2022: the Hot Springs Neighborhood Trail was built in conjunction with debris-flow related roadway repairs
• 2023: Barker Pass Neighborhood Trail was completed
• 2024: Camino Viejo Neighborhood Trail was completed
• 2025: San Leandro Neighborhood Trail was completed

Upcoming Trails:

• 2025: Middle Road Neighborhood Trail (November 2025)
• 2026: Sycamore Canyon Neighborhood Trail (contingent on fundraising)

The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade thanked community partners on this project: Santa Barbara County Public Works, Montecito Bank and Trust, and Steve Hanson Landscaping. 

To learn more about the Walk Montecito Campaign and the Montecito Neighborhood Trail Network click here: https://sbbucketbrigade.org/walk-montecito/ and to learn more about Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade visit sbbucketbrigade.org