Hecker Pass Scenic Highway
Syngenta
End of Path June
End of
Path
August
2018
Santa
Teresa
&
Third
Gilroy Gardens
HPSP
stands for Hecker Pass Specifi c Plan Walk-
way. Not a very exciting name for a beautiful extension of
the levee we Gilroy residents have come to know and enjoy
since it opened in 1989. The HPSP walkway starts at Santa
Teresa Boulevard and goes west along Uvas Creek in a gentle
arch back to Hecker Pass. Walking west from under Santa
Teresa you will notice that the fence changes color from a
dark red-brown to a lighter gray. The light fence is the new
HPSP Walkway.
J.Chris and I, along with our furry companion, Charlie,
discovered the walkway one Sunday afternoon. We were
delighted with the walkway, the landscaping, the scenery
and the civilized exposure to our local flora and fauna.
There are a variety of learning stations along the way with
numerous opportunities
for wildlife viewing.
Currently the walk-
way extends to Hecker
Pass Highway from Santa
Teresa. When completed
it will be a 3.2-mile loop
back to the intersection
of Santa Teresa and
Hecker Pass. The path
along Hecker Pass will
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
be south along the magnificent Deodar Cedars that line the
roadway. Part of the existing path extends along the creek, part
skirts along Third Street and Grassland Lane. About a half-mile
in, there is a small neighborhood park and fenced dog park.
Last time I was out there it was still fenced off to the public
as Meritage Homes completes some last-minute adjustments
before they turn the park over to the City of Gilroy.
We also learned that a lot of people use the walkway
already. It is well traveled by walkers, runners, cyclists
and families. We have run into friends and acquaintances
each time we have been out there. The walkway is being
completed by Maritage Homes, which is building several
residential communities in the Hecker Pass Specific Plan
area. Current plans have Meritage Homes building over
400 homes along the south side of Hecker Pass. The Hecker
Pass Specific Plan also calls for some commercial uses in part
of the development. Recently plans were submitted for a
winery and tasting room, some live-work condos and some
agricultural commercial space.
At Santa Teresa the new walkway connects with the
Dennis Debell Uvas Creek Preserve, which is officially 1.7
miles of trail from Luchessa Avenue to Santa Teresa Boulevard
at Third Street. At Luchessa the trail also wanders south back
to the Gilroy Sports Park. When completed, the trail will
extend from the Sports Park, past Christmas Hill Park, on
to the Meritage Homes
and Syngenta then along
Hecker Pass back to Santa
Teresa—a hefty 5.7 miles.
We look forward to a
grand opening, tentatively
scheduled for July, 2018,
and a new name for this
beautiful tribute to a
healthier and more active
Gilroy.
JUNE/JULY 2018
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