On Monday, April 8th, Pima County closed the Campbell Road trail and trailhead. This was done without prior public notice or input.
The Campbell trail leads directly into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and in the short space of a half mile, a hiker can go from dense urban housing to a quiet expansive wilderness area. This trail has been a valued part of the county trail system for 40 years, and it was an unofficial trail before that when Tucson was much less developed.
With the retirement of Chuck Huckelberry and the premature sudden death of Steve Anderson, Pima County hikers, bikers, and equestrians have lost two of their fiercest champions for public non-motorized trails.
I ask the current County government if they are going to continue trail policies that created Tucson gems, such as Sweetwater Preserve, Enchanted Hills, Robles Pass, and McKenzie Ranch. Or, is the County now in the business of closing trails and reducing public access to public land?
James Terlep
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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