The Montecito Trails Foundation & Summerland Citizens Association

The Montecito Trails Foundation (MTF) celebrated 60 years of operation in 2024 and is already doing collabs with its community partners in Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria. Dedicated to maintaining the trails and working with environmental issues, they are the BTS foundation of people and volunteers who keep nature going for us in the back country.

MTF Executive Director Ashlee Mayfield is speaking at the Summerland Citizens Association Townhall Special meeting on Thursday, April 10 starting at 5:30 pm at the Summerland Church. The meeting is open to the public. Also attending are SBC Public Works Traffic Deputy Director Mostafa Estaji, Traffic Engineer Gary Smart, Engineer Chris Doolittle, Maintenance Manager Udy Loza, and Lt. Brittingham to go over multiple projects in Summerland.

MTF Summerland Projects include:

Banner Trail – MTF will create a short realignment of the trail to the original locations because users created a steep climb to get around the tree.

Reservoir Trail – MTF is installing seasonal mud mats as used in Europe through the boggy section at the bottom to allow year-round use by equestrians, pedestrians, and bikers.

Bella Vista Trail – MTF is awaiting restoration plans due to unpermitted work redirecting the trail.

The MTF annual spring 10’ trail brushing: date TBA. 

The Summerland Citizens Association shared that they lobbied for converting the Summerland Road Yard into a preserve (the Greenwell Preserve), and in 2023 formally requested a 50-year lease on that property, extended in 2024 through 2074. That property is also partnered with the MTF.

411: www.montecitotrailsfoundation.info; Insta: @montecitotrailsfoundation

Email: summerlandcitizens@gmail.com