Explore recreation possibilities along the Santa Clara River

You can learn about recreational opportunities along the Santa Clara River during a meeting Thursday in Ventura. 

Nina Danza of the Ventura Sierra Club and a member of the Friends of the Santa Clara River, will provide an update to residents about the Santa Clara River Loop Trail. She'll be joined by staff with the National Park Service, which is working to make the project happen. 

They will talk during the monthly meeting of the East Ventura Community Council, which represents residents who live east of Victoria Avenue.

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In 2001, the Friends of the Santa Clara River received 220 acres as part of the Santa Clara River Parkway Project. The goal of the wide-ranging plan is to eventually restore access to the lower Santa Clara River for habitat, floodplain protection and recreation, according to the project's web site.

Following that report, Helen Tosh, a community services coordinator with the Ventura County Health Care Agency, will talk about vaping. She'll focus on Ventura's effort to reduce access to the electronic cigarettes that have spiked in popularity in recent years. 

Also at the meeting, a representative with the Ventura Police Department will discuss crime in the neighborhood. Residents can share concerns and ask questions. 

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Connect Church at 346 N. Kimball Road.