New Coachella Valley Non-Profit “Friends of CV Link” Hits the Pavement

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - April 16, 2014 - PRLog -- The Coachella Valley Trails Alliance has announced that it has reformed as Friends of CV Link as a community based non-profit organization established to enhance and promote the proposed 50 mile “green” multiuse CV Link that will connect the cities of the Coachella Valley. The project is being spearheaded by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG). The projects many benefits will include saving lives of pedestrians, cyclists, and joggers, improving overall health of Valley residents, and providing a safe recreational and commuter corridor for locals and tourists.

The 501 c(3) organization shares CVAG’s  vision that “residents and visitors of all ages and abilities, including those with physical disabilities, will be drawn to the CV Link as a destination to bicycle, walk/jog, and use low-speed electric vehicles (LSEV) along an off-street paved path from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea. Connecting schools, stores, restaurants, workplaces, parks, and natural areas with “green” transportation routes will create a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous Coachella Valley."

Through donations, the Friends group intends to promote this multiuse trail as one of the best in the world, bringing locals and tourists the option to enjoy leisurely travel and/or commute safely as an alternative to Highway 111 and other major thoroughfares. Major goals of the Friends of the CV Link will include assistance in the promotion of the project, maintenance of the CV Link and assistance with the promotion of events held on the new facility.

Paul Harris, President and co-founder of the organization says that “Our Board members’ passion and our volunteers’ spirit will do our best to add any amenities to the trail that our Valley residents and visitors seek. These may include enhanced landscaping, educational displays, nature walks, scavenger hunts, additional rest areas, improved safety measures, benches, artwork and regular clean up events on various portions of the trail, and a diversity of races and riding events including full access for disabled individuals. Long-term goals may include creating a relief station on the Link that would include snacks and refreshments, educational displays, bike and golf cart repair, a safety and first aid station and storage facility for tools and equipment. “

Besides Cathedral City resident Harris, the seven Board members represent a cross-section of Valley residents including Vice President and Rancho Mirage mountain biker Gary Lueders, Treasurer and Palm Springs cyclist Jim Rothblatt, La Quinta hiker and biker Mary Settle, Palm Springs solar golf cart engineer Lenny Caprino, recent UCR graduate and behaviorist Charly Natividad of Indio, and Palm Desert cyclist, Ed Schiller.

Our first event will be a Clean Up Day commencing on Sunday, May 4th at 8:30AM in co-sponsorship with the Palm Springs Bike Coalition, ‪Healthy Planet, Healthy You, Sustainability Commission and Office of Sustainability from the City of Palm Springs as part of May Bike Month. We will be meeting at the Demuth Park Community Center at Demuth Park at 3601 East Mesquite Ave. Palm Springs. Please bring work gloves, sturdy shoes, rakes, sun block and hats. Our clean up will go till about 11AM. Tentatively the Friends group has scheduled a fun bike ride for all abilities for Sunday, June 22nd beginning at 7AM on part of the existing CV Link route.

For further information on the Friends group and future events, or if you would like to donate or volunteer to support this organization please go to http://friendsofcvlink.org