PRESS RELEASE

Sacramento Bee
November 20, 2004

HIKERS AND BICYCLERS ON SERRANO'S PATHS NOW HAVE TRAILHEADS TO PINPOINT THEIR LOCATION

Parker Development Company, Residents Work Together to Provide Just-in-Case Safety Measure

When Johanne Christmas wants to get some outdoor aerobic exercise in a pleasant setting, she heads for the 13 miles of trails just outside her doorway at the master-planned community of Serrano in El Dorado Hills. "Jogging or running on trails provides many benefits to your mind, body, and spirit," says the 64-year-old marathon runner, "and you don't have to worry about traffic."

But while the Parker Development Company community has just about everything a resident could want -- that's why Christmas and her husband pulled up stakes in Santa Cruz and headed to the foothills three and a half years ago -- the former OBGYN & ER nurse found one small detail lacking: There were no trailheads on the paths to locate people in the event of an emergency.

"When people are out running, walking, or biking they don't tend to think much about their safety," Christmas says. "Emergency services are able to respond more efficiently when callers are able to state where either they or the problem is located."

While the pristine community of Serrano with its immaculate green areas, parks, and championship golf course can hardly be called "wilderness," the Serrano trails do meander through approximately 1,000 acres of open space and restored wetlands that seem a world away from roadways and conventional street signs.

Christmas and a few of her neighbors, including recently retired El Dorado County Deputy Sheriff Carl Bialorucki and Lucy Battaglia, dubbed themselves Friends of the Serrano Trails and appealed to Parker Development for help in getting markers in place. The project became a three-pronged effort, with Serrano residents and Parker Development getting together to name the trails and put the markers in place, and the El Dorado Hills Fire Department approving the names.

"We took the request very seriously," says Andrea Brown, an assistant planner at Parker Development Company. "There were several factors to consider. We wanted the trails to be easily read, remembered, and pronounced by young children. We also needed to ensure that the trail names did not duplicate names used elsewhere in El Dorado County. So the input of the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, which ultimately approved all of the trailhead names, was really critical. Today, the fire department has a map of the trail locations and stands ready to locate and help trail users if ever necessary."

Brown says the trail-naming project started in a fashion similar to the way Serrano names its streets -- developing a theme for the basis of each name.

"Initially, our theme was one of historical significance, drawing from the names of dairy farmers, ranchers and miners who had settled in the area in the 1800s," Brown explains. "Johanne Christmas and Lucy Battaglia, another member of Friends of Serrano Trails, came up with the idea to develop trail names that would appeal to and be easily read by youngsters. They took an active role in developing names relating to flora and fauna. So the names you see today -- from Walker Ridge Trail, named for a rancher, to Poppy Trail and Turtle Cove -- are a combination of those themes."

There are currently 17 markers in place at the entrance and exit of each Serrano trail; seven more are anticipated as Parker Development completes the trail system, which partially follows existing sewer maintenance and fire roads. "This multifunctional purpose minimizes the impact on our natural areas," Brown explains.

The dual use of the land in no way distracts from its appeal, though. "I like to look at the wildflowers, plants and trees as I walk the trails," says Battaglia, who lives in Serrano with her husband and young children. "The Serrano trails take you through some beautiful areas and are a pleasant distraction from everyday cares."

Prospective homebuyers should bring their walking shoes when they visit Serrano: The Serrano Trail, which parallels Serrano Parkway, starts out directly behind the Serrano Visitors Center. The trail goes by picnic tables, a tot lot and a gurgling creek with lush vegetation. Or visitors might want to pick up the trails off of El Dorado Hills Blvd. via the Bull Frog Gully trail, dotted with the magnificent heritage oaks that are a hallmark of the Serrano community.

For more information and directions to Serrano, call toll free 800-866-8786 or visit www.serranoeldorado.com.