Why Montecito Needs Walkable Trails
If you've ever wished Montecito were easier to walk, you’re not alone. That’s why the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade launched Walk Montecito!, a community-led initiative to create a safe and scenic neighborhood trail network. Our exceptional community is home to schools, churches, parks, beaches, and businesses. But getting to these places without a car can be difficult—or worse. The Montecito Community Plan acknowledges the need for pedestrian-friendly improvements but prohibits traditional paved sidewalks, making publicly funded projects nearly impossible.
The result? A pedestrian dilemma that has persisted for decades. Without safe walkways, you’re forced to choose between walking in traffic, avoiding certain areas altogether, or driving everywhere—even short distances that should be easily walkable. This creates more congestion, makes parking more difficult, and isolates people from their neighbors.
But what if Montecito could provide safe, accessible paths that connect the entire community?
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The Solution: The Montecito Neighborhood Trail Network
Instead of waiting for a solution that may never come, community members took matters into their own hands and created Walk Montecito!, an ambitious, three-year campaign to build an 8.5-mile network of trails designed specifically for the needs of the charming town’s residents. These trails won’t be your typical concrete sidewalks. Instead, they’ll blend seamlessly into the town’s natural beauty with ADA-friendly decomposed granite pathways, compacted shale side-road trails, and scenic nature paths through open spaces.
With this trail network in place, you’ll be able to walk safely, bicyclists will have clearer lanes, and drivers won’t have to worry about navigating around pedestrians in the roadway.
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The Benefits of a Walkable Montecito
Thanks to Walk Montecito!, your daily routine will become safer, healthier, and more connected. Plus, a connected Montecito means more than just safe footpaths. The benefits go far beyond convenience:
- Improved safety – No more walking in dangerous roadways.
- Less traffic and congestion – Fewer short car trips mean more open parking spaces.
- Healthier lifestyles – Walking improves physical and mental well-being.
- Stronger community ties – When you walk your neighborhood, you get to know your neighbors.
- Better focus for students – Walking to school has been proven to improve student attentiveness and learning.
What’s Next? The Walk Montecito Project Timeline
The Walk Montecito campaign began in 2022 with a capital fundraising effort to secure the funding needed to make these trails a reality. The goal? Build the remaining six miles of trail and complete the entire 8.5-mile Montecito Neighborhood Trail Network by the end of 2024. That goal has passed but the group has made progress, completing two miles of trails built in just two years. But now, it’s time to fully fund and complete the project.
How You Can Help Make Montecito Walkable
Walk Montecito! isn’t funded by government grants, new taxes, or ballot measures. Instead, it’s a community-driven project—funded and built by people like you, who care about making Montecito a safer, more walkable place. There are several ways you can get involved:
1. Donate to Support the Trails
If you walk in Montecito, you know how much these trails are needed. Your financial support can help get them built. The total budget for the trail network is $2.54 million, which includes long-term maintenance to keep trails safe and beautiful for years to come.
So far, the community has raised $1.4 million, but $1.1 million is still needed to complete the project. Donations by check, wire transfer or online of any amount make a difference, and multi-year gifts are also accepted.
2. Advocate for Neighborhood Trails
Want to see trails in your part of Montecito? Organized neighborhoods make projects like this easier and more inclusive. By advocating for trails in your community, you can help ensure safe walking paths are prioritized.
3. Volunteer with the Bucket Brigade
If you prefer hands-on involvement, sign up to help build and maintain the trails. The group behind this mission, the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade, organizes regular volunteer workdays for trail construction, beautification, and maintenance. It’s a great way to give back, meet your neighbors, and be part of a historic community project.
4. Sponsor a Trail Section
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to contribute, consider sponsoring a section of trail. Sponsors will receive recognition in the form of on-trail plaques, acknowledgments on the Walk Montecito website, and a spot on the Montecito Trail Blazers Monument upon the project’s completion.
A Community Effort, A Lasting Impact
Walk Montecito! isn’t just about building trails—it’s about creating a better future for Montecito. The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade has already proven what’s possible when the community comes together. After the devastation of the 2018 Montecito debris flow, volunteers stepped up to restore damaged properties, rebuild trails, and support neighbors in need. Now, that same spirit of resilience and collaboration is making Montecito more walkable.
With your support, Montecito can have a safe, accessible, and interconnected trail network that benefits residents, businesses, and visitors alike. This isn’t just a vision—it’s already happening, and you can be a part of it.
Montecito’s charm and beauty are undeniable—but a safe, walkable neighborhood makes it even more desirable to homebuyers. By supporting Walk Montecito!, you’re helping create a future where our community thrives with safe, accessible, and pedestrian-friendly streets.. Whether you donate, volunteer, or advocate, your involvement helps make Montecito a safer and more vibrant place to live. And if you’re ready to find your dream home in this extraordinary town, I’d love to help. Contact me at (805) 886-9378 or email Cristal@montecito-estate.com for your complimentary consultation.