The city of Baldwin Park broke ground Thursday at Walnut Creek Nature Park for the next phase of construction on the Baldwin Hills Greenway, a 2.5-mile protected bike and pedestrian path.

“The greenway will reduce our carbon footprint … a major issue here in our city,” Baldwin Park Mayor Alejandra Avila in a ceremony that included City Council members Emmanuel Estrada as well as representatives from the office of Congressmember Gil Cisneros, state Sen. Susan Rubio, D-Covina, and Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, D-West Covina. “We are surrounded by freeways, making our area more toxic than other areas. And we are still park-poor, but we’re working on increasing that.”

The ceremony commemorated the beginning of the final stage of Phase I of the Greenway, which runs along the San Gabriel River, connecting Ramona Boulevard to Walnut Creek Nature Park.

Designed for both recreation and connectivity, the car-free, ADA-accessible route will aim to ensure a safe and scenic experience for walkers, runners and cyclists, according to the city.

“Just as I was walking up, you can smell how beautiful it is out here, and then the breeze and seeing all of the gorgeous greenery, and I know this is just the beginning,” Julianne Hines, district director for Sen. Rubio. “I’m really excited about the potential for this, and it just reminds me how important it is for us to continue advocating for funding for the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, and for all of these kinds of projects that benefit our community so greatly.”

The city also said the Greenway will be enhanced with native, drought-tolerant landscaping and improvements such as water fountains, benches, ample lighting along the path and at entrances, bicycle repair stations, and picnic areas.

Angelica Hernandez is a lifelong resident of Baldwin Park who attended the ceremony. She said she often walks over to the park to enjoy the fresh air and get her morning and evening steps in.

“ I love to come and bring my nephew, to do small picnics or to even meet friends for a coffee, or also to take pictures,” Hernandez said. “I like to come and do some birdwatching and see the migration of the butterflies when spring comes.”

Hernandez also said she is excited for new amenities in the park to possibly draw more people in from the center of town.

“Having grown up in Baldwin Park, we are kind of straddled by the 605 and the 10 freeways, so there’s always been an issue of health concerns for people,” Hernandez said. “Having green spaces allows people to get into nature, learn a little bit more about drought tolerant plants, and also just have a place to come and relax.”

Construction on the project is expected to be complete June 27, 2025.

“It’s a really good place,” Hernandez said. “I recommend it to everybody.”