Making The Elfin Forest Accessible to ALL.

Cal Poly architect student Mark Dariz has first hand experience with not having access to the Elfin Forest. A nearby resident of 17th Street, Mark is unable to visit the Elfin Forest on his own as the soft sand of the trails will not support his wheelchair.


Mark has been working with SWAP to apply his architectural skills to planning for access for persons of all abilities. In July, SWAP board members The Nature Conservancy's boardwalk access at Oso Flaco Lake with Mark. SWAP borrowed a sand wheelchair from the Morro Bay Park and Recreation Department to take Mark on a tour of the Elfin Forest. Mark introduced Cal Poly Architecture Professor Emeritus Paul Wolff to SWAP. Dr. Wolff has had considerable experience with access issues and will oversee Mark's design of a boardwalk to provide improved access for all that is at the same time in keeping with the Elfin Forest Natural Area.


Three Cal Poly construction management students, Antoni Artho, Matt Angell, and Ken Scholle, will build a pilot segment of the boardwalk as their senior project. They are looking into design issues, costing out materials, and handling the myriad of details that must be addressed for such a project. We will keep you updated on the progress that they are making.

SWAP Grant Writer's Put Pen To Paper Again.

SWAP and LOCO (the Los Osos Community Organization), in collaboration with SLO County Parks and CA Department of Parks and Recreation, submitted a joint proposal for funding from the federal ISTEA program for a "Los Osos/Elfin Forest Community Access." Funds were requested for an ecological information area at the South Bay Day Use Area north of Los Osos Creek and west of South Bay Boulevard. Panaromic views of the Elfin Forest and Morro Bay would be supplemented by informational interpretative displays. Funds were also requested to build a boardwalk to provide access to persons of all abilities and to improve the exisiting trails that connect the ecological interpretative area site with the boardwalk site.


All requests for ISTEA funds are reviewed by the SLOCOG (the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments). SLOCOG recommended ISTEA funding for the interpretative site and suggested applying for state Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Funds, under the category of providing for roadside recreation, to fund the boardwalk access. A second proposal, for funding to complete the boardwalk, has been submitted to the California State Resource Agency in November. The Resource Agency will make their recommendations for funding to the California Transportation Commission in April of 1996 and awards will be made July 1, 1996.

Los Osos Realtors Continue to Support the Elfin Forest Natural Area.

The Elfin Forest has once again been the beneficiary of the generosity of Jerri Chadwick, Baywood Realty and Patrick McGibney, Green Earth Realty. Both realtors have an ongoing practice of donating a percentage of all commissions to local environmental projects. Their recent contributions have been placed in the fund to help develop improved access to the Elfin Forest. If you have need of the services of a realtor, an environmental oranization will benefit if you work with either Jerri or Patrick.

For more information contact rbowker@oboe.calpoly.edu