By Todd Marco
Aptos Creek Road, the main entrance to The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, has seen a large surge of traffic & congestion since the start of the pandemic.
What hadn’t changed, until now, was the poor condition of this narrow single-lane access route. Park visitors had to maneuver around large potholes and illegally parked vehicles while avoiding steep cliffs, oncoming traffic, and numerous hikers and bikers all sharing the same thin strip of crumbling road.
In 2020, after road congestion delayed paramedic response to a medical emergency in the park, a group of concerned residents & community members began meeting regularly with local agencies to brainstorm solutions.
This led to the formation of local nonprofit Nisene Rio Gateway (www.aptosnrg.org) and the start of a productive collaboration with California State Parks, the agency that maintains Aptos Creek Road.
Within weeks, State Parks installed new signage and began enforcing parking restrictions, which quickly reduced vehicle congestion along the roadway.
Still, it was clear that the poor condition of the road would need to be addressed, but the attention & budget of State Parks was focused on other priorities like rebuilding Big Basin State Park after the devastating CZU fire of 2020.
Part of Aptos Creek Road was resealed in 2021, but the lower portion was in need of more substantial paving work.
When a vehicle flipped on a steep and narrow portion of the poorly maintained road, safety concerns were once again amplified.
Fortunately, State Parks has now managed to secure funding and arranged for a full resurfacing of the access road’s challenging but vital lower section. As of Oct 5, park visitors can now enjoy a much smoother trip into the park, whether on foot or wheels.
Of course, resurfacing won’t address all the safety concerns along the narrow access road. In particular, speeding vehicles remain a safety concern for everyone, as the 15 mph speed limit isn’t posted and is frequently violated. Similarly, there are no signs warning that the one-lane road supports two-way traffic, no reminders to share the road with pedestrians and cyclists, no curb along the roadway edge, and no markings, striping, or barriers to more safely direct shared usage.
Speed humps may be required if speeding remains an issue, but hopefully drivers will responsibly enjoy the smooth new surface.
Some may prefer the road more rugged and bare, but entering the park shouldn’t put people’s safety at risk. This beautiful State Park belongs to all of us, and we all have a responsibility to care for it and the safety of others enjoying it.
We applaud and thank State Parks for their continued efforts to protect and preserve access to this precious gem.
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Todd Marco updates the Nisene Rio Gateway Forum, a private group on Facebook for people with concerns about safety at Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos.
TOP PHOTO: Recent work to improve Aptos Creek Road.