It takes a village to keep up the Pico

Today, the Pico Promenade is a level walking path bordered by trees and plants, running from Elder Street to the north down to Fallbrook Street at its south end. But it did not start out that way.

According to Jackie Heyneman, “Prior to 1996, the Pico was just a swale for water runoff from the northern part of Fallbrook; there was no path, no trees on either side of the waterway and it was much shallower than today, overgrown with grass only. Two times a year it was mowed and that service was paid for by a local bank.”

Since then, many community groups, businesses and organizations have played a role in developing the pathway and keeping its natural elements alive for residents to enjoy all year round.

A Save Our Forest (SOF) founding member, Heyneman said that SOF initially received a donation of 74 trees from a developer building new homes off of Via Monserate south of Fallbrook. It was in the winter of 1996-97 that SOF volunteers planted those trees on both sides of the Pico between Fallbrook Street and Elder Street, the first effort to create a landscaped path through town.

To keep the trees alive, Heyneman explained, adjacent property owners stepped up to the plate to provide water supply for an irrigation system. Brad Uruquhart, owner of Fallbrook Fertilizer, provided water for the two blocks from Fallbrook Street to Beech St.; Kirk Hampton, owner of Fallbrook Muffler, covered the block from Beech to College, and Rick Windbigler, Fallbrook Equipment Rentals, from College to Elder.

More oaks were added in the next few years while Windbigler paved the way for the DG pathway that came in 2001 by putting in curbing and a stabilized DG path in his block. Heyneman said that a bid by the Fallbrook Village Association (FVA) for a Community Enhancement grant in 2001 obtained the funding to complete the pathway in the other three blocks.

Since 2001, SOF volunteers have continued to maintain the pathway by watering, pruning and weeding the landscaping. When the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance (FBA) came into being in 2007, its volunteers also stepped forward to support some major needs such as tree removal that became necessary for some trees that proved to be inadequate.

The FBA also provided more benches to augment an Eagle Scout bench that was installed. Local students painted the benches at one point as part of a school program, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of North County afterschool program, through a SDG&E grant, partnered with SOF to plant native plants along the path, with Major Market providing refreshments for the planting session.

While members of the Fallbrook Garden Club have adopted a couple of blocks to help with weeding, FBA member Jean Dooley has picked up trash on the Pico every Friday for years. “It is a major job,” Heyneman said.

Eagle scout projects have also provided split rail fencing and two kiosks, one at Beech Street and a new one near Fallbrook Street.

Today, both Uruquhart and Windbigler continue to provide water for their sections while the Citrus Plaza and Straub Construction now provide water across the path to where the SOF trees were planted.

While the Pico path has benefited from the efforts of many local residents and businesses, Heyneman said, "the continued and constant graffiti problem now has become of major concern". Through the FVA , she has solicited financial support from the adjacent property owners to buy and install new recycled plastic benches from which graffiti is easily removed. They are also very durable and will last a long time.

"All these good deeds and efforts to make this four block walkway connecting north and south Fallbrook a pleasant walk are often marred by graffiti that is offensive to the eye," Heyneman added.

Graffiti also mars concrete surfaces seen along the pathway, from culverts and curbs to signs and walls.

A recent case of graffiti painted on the polycarbonate covering of one of the kiosks was very bad, Heyneman said. She and Mary Belton, of the Fallbrook Historical Society, had just completed posting a display of historical information in that kiosk the day before the incident, Aug. 24.

Polycarbonate had been chosen as a covering because it does not break like plexiglass does. However, the cleaner used by FBA's graffiti removal team melted the polycarbonate surface leaving it cloudy. So, the cover is now going to be replaced with tempered glass which is hard to break, is easily cleaned and costs the same as plexiglass, according to Heyneman.

She has also worked with the Sheriff's Department to increase the presence of deputies and members of the Senior Volunteer Patrol on the pathway to make it a safe place to walk.

Volunteer work is continuing to enhance the pathway. North Coast Church mulched the entire four blocks early this summer, providing a lot of mulch as well as the labor to spread it. This will help with weed control and moisture retention.

Earlier this month, Riverview Church's youth group, under the leadership of Chace Steeves, helped pour the cement pads that the new benches are secured to. "This was a big help," Heyneman said.

For Heyneman, the Pico "is a flat smooth walking surface for exercise, walking pets, and being able to enjoy a shaded walk to the library or historic downtown Fallbrook or coming south to the grocery store".

All are invited to come down and see the latest improvements or volunteer with one of the many groups that serve as caretakers for this community pathway.