San Lorenzo River - Scenic and Historic Elements

Scenic and Historic Elements

Much of the upper reaches of this watershed are quite beautiful in their natural forest setting, while the lower reach is accessible to the large population of Santa Cruz. In 1987 the city of Santa Cruz retained ROMA, a San Francisco design firm, to develop a design concept plan for incorporating the natural elements of the river into the urban design fabric of the city. The plan led to creation of pedestrian walkways, picnic areas and view opportunities along the lower populated stretch of the river. The plan called for creation of a continuous forest to be established on the upper banks of Valley Oak, Buckeye, Willow and other trees with seasonal foliage.

One notably scenic reach between the Riverside Avenue and Broadway bridges may be the most visually prominent and attractive parts of the river. Here the river bends skirting the base of Beach Hill, a historic neighborhood and noteworthy topographic element of the city of Santa Cruz. This reach is visible from many parts of the city and give a sense of steepness and enclosure within the channel. The west bank had been the site of a wooden boardwalk, now washed away by erosion.

Read more about this topic:  San Lorenzo River

Famous quotes containing the words scenic, historic and/or elements:

    Hence from scenic bacchanal,
    Preshrunk and droll prodigal!
    Smallness that you had to spend,
    Spent. Wench, whiskey and tail-end
    Of your overseas disease
    Rot and rout you by degrees.
    Gwendolyn Brooks (b. 1917)

    The first farmer was the first man, and all historic nobility rests on possession and use of land.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    Icebergs behoove the soul
    (both being self-made from elements least visible
    to see them so; fleshed, fair, erected indivisible.
    Elizabeth Bishop (1911–1979)