Friday, March 4, 2011

Discovering Mill Valley's Secret Steps, Lanes and Paths

Living in Mill Valley and navigating the twisty, curvy roads that traverse the canyons and hills can be quite an adventure.

In the late 1800's, Mill Valley began as a pedestrian-friendly town, with hundreds of short-cuts meandering up and down the hills that provided connections between the streets on Mill Valley's hillside to the streets on the flatland.


The Steps, Lanes and Paths of Mill Valley were constructed in 1890 and was designed to be used by residents as an easy way to get to town and to public transportation (historically, the train station at The Depot).


Many of Mill Valley’s older hillside neighborhoods have roads that follow the contours of the hills where driving can be somewhat circuitous.


Today, the same narrow stairways and paths provide direct connections for pedestrians as they did in the past. The right of way still exists to include these passageways which continue to provide connections between streets, commercial areas and other hillside neighborhoods. Some of these facilities are simple pathways while others are steep enough to require stairways.


 After years of neglect, citizens along with the City, began an effort to identify and rebuild these historic Steps, Lanes and Paths in 2000.The Steps, Lanes and Paths (SLP) project is now funded through the City of Mill Valley's Vegetation Management Program. The program allows crews to clear vegetation, replace steps and add marker posts to identify these pathways should you care to explore them on your own.

An added benefit is that in the event of an emergency, these facilities can can also be used as safe evacuation routes in case roads should become blocked.


A Mill Valley Steps, Lanes and Paths map may be purchased at the Mill Valley Public Library for $5.00.

Enjoy!
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Highlight Community of the Month

Mill Valley


Nestled below majestic Mt. Tamalpais, Mill Valley is reminiscent of a charming European village. Surrounded by national parks, including Muir Woods, an ancient coast redwood forest, Mill Valley's lush landscape of hills and canyons is a favorite place for visitors who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, golf and running. Two national financial magazines, MONEY and CNN/Money, recently named Mill Valley as one of the 10 top cities in America in which to live. They noted that millionaires and well-known names in the film and music industries, like Bonnie Raitt, Bob Weir and Sammy Hagar, make their homes in this quaint community.

Downtown activities center around Lytton Square, where people gather for coffee at the Book Depot Cafe or for a game of chess while conducting some serious people-watching. Fashionable boutiques and restaurants fill the downtown. The Sweetwater Music Hall, one of the top roots music clubs in the nation, is well-known for its live musical performances and famous guest musicians who occasionally drop in for an evening to improvise.

Mill Valley is host to a range of cultural activities. The Mill Valley Film Festival is an internationally recognized festival that has attracted leading filmmakers and movie aficionados for the past 28 years. The Mountain Play, produced in June in an outdoor amphitheatre, attracts thousands of theater-goers to the top of Mt. Tamalpais to watch Broadway musicals performed by talented local actors. The Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club, a state historical landmark, was designed in 1904 by internationally known architect, Bernard Maybeck. Particularly notable for its unusual roof truss system, the Arts and Crafts style building exemplifies Maybeck's creative use of natural materials.

Mill Valley, home of the Marin Mountain Bike, hosts the annual Dipsea Race, the second oldest footrace in the United States. The race takes runners over a 7.1 mile course up and over Mt. Tamalpais to one of the most beautiful California beaches on the Pacific Ocean. Whether it's for cultural events, dining, shopping or recreation, Mill Valley is a draw for both visitors and residents alike.