A group of Santa Clarita residents have a deeper appreciation for their community after attending a 20th anniversary Santa Clarita bus tour. The tour was free and open to the public, taking residents on a two-hour ride through and around the Santa Clarita Valley.
Residents boarded the coach bus just outside City Hall after filling up on brownies, cookies, soft drinks and plenty of water.
The bus was packed with people who have lived in the valley for only a few years along with others who have resided here for more than 20 years.
As the bus started to move, Mayor Marsha McLean did her best to talk about the history and positive aspects of the city while keeping her balance at the same time. As the bus passed some Valencia auto dealerships, McLean told passengers that Santa Clarita became a city in December 1987, is one of the safest cities in the country and one of the best communities for young people to live in.
Residents were taken down McBean Parkway and driven past the Valencia Town Center.
The tour continued through the Industrial Center, where 70,000 workers are employed in places, such as Santa Clarita Studios and The Daily News.
After driving along Newhall Ranch Road, the next stop was the Transit Maintenance Facility, which is a “Cost-effective, healthy and resource-efficient facility,” said McLean. The facility takes advantage of natural gas, an automated bus wash and a solar canopy that helps the buses cool off faster by keeping them in the shade.
Tour riders were also driven past Heritage Park, Bridgeport Park and Central Park. The 17-acre Heritage Park is home to a life-size statue of a bear with pictures on it that represent the history of the Santa Clarita Valley. Other attractions found at Heritage Park include a playground and tennis courts.
The 16-acre Bridgeport Park is equipped with a softball field, picnic benches and was the location for the Loose Goose Wine Festival.
The 80-acre Central Park opened in 2000 and has four new fields, a golf course, three basketball courts and is the location where many summer concerts are held. This park also has a youth grove where tree stumps represent the lives of those that have been cut short due to irresponsible behavior and alcohol-related traffic accidents.
The tour also included a visit to Santa Clarita’s Activities Center, which includes such attractions as a skate park and the Aquatic Center and is home to a two-story high red slide.
After passing the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library and Whitney Canyon, which was purchased in March 2005 for $4.9 million, the tour bus drove through the earliest settlement in Santa Clarita, Newhall. Newhall is home to the Santa Clarita Community Center, the Newhall Metro Link Station and the two-day Cowboy Poetry Festival. It was nice to end the tour where the journey and growth of our fine city began in 1876.
For more information visit www.santa-clarita.com .