The Center Trail Bridge is Complete

Until four years ago, the Center Trail near Why Worry Lane was the major thoroughfare for equestrians traveling between Woodside Road and Portola Road. Well-used for more than 100 years, this trail served as equestrian’s primary north/south linkage through Town. Then, in the winter of 2016, the banks of Bear Gulch Creek failed forcing the closure of this important equestrian pathway.

Galloping into immediate action, local equestrian and trail groups went to work with the Town to raise money and formulate plans for a brand-new Center Trail Bridge. Working with the Town’s Capital Investment Program, the following groups pitched in with funds: Woodside Trail Club, Woodside Trail Committee, WHOA! (Woodside-area Horse Owners Association), Mounted Patrol Foundation, Woodside Community Foundation Trail Fund and CHAPS (Community Horse Advocacy Program for San Mateo County).

“The Center Trail Bridge project provided an opportunity for WHOA! and other groups to support a critical Town trail link between Fox Hollow and Why Worry Lane as well as the Woodside Trail Club trail which connects North and South Woodside.”

Fawni Hill, President of WHOA!

Through the combined effort of all these organizations and several generous individuals, the Center Trail was completed on July 16, 2020. Indeed, C2R Engineering was able to complete the project in less than 30 days with the capable oversight of Sean Rose, Woodside’s Town Engineer.

“The Woodside Community Foundation was created more than 60 years ago exactly for this kind of project. Individuals from the community were able to make tax-deductible contributions to the Foundation’s Trail Fund, and these Funds were then put to work on the Center Trail. The community working in tandem with the Town was able to preserve an important component of Woodside’s long history of equestrian culture. Thankfully, the historic Center Trail is open for horseback riding again.”

Rick DeBenedetti, Woodside Community Foundation Treasurer