The Axel Lindgren Memorial Trail was closed February 10, 2023 due to storm damage and unsafe conditions at the bottom of the trail. The City hoped to repair and re-open the trail by Memorial Day 2023, but that did not happen.
Meanwhile, the Tsurai Ancestral Society (TAS) commissioned an engineering study to upgrade the trail and to re-route the lower part along the traditional path to the beach. A report was submitted to TAS June 30, 2023. I believe TAS carefully reviewed the report before sharing it with the City. After receipt of the report, the Mayor had it posted on the City website in a City Council meeting packet.
The trail remains closed. Opinion goes back and forth. On July 16, 2024, City staff asked the City Planning Commission for a third extension of the trail closure. The Commissioners felt after two years that a further “temporary” delay was insufficient. They hoped the City Council would become more involved. Anticipating an appeal, they denied the continuing closure. Three Trinidad residents also objected to continuing the closure. As expected, the Mayor appealed to the City Council. On August 13, 2024 the Council voted to override the Planning Commission, and approved another extension. But in addition, the Mayor and Council resolved to
(1) Commit discretionary trail funds to the [TAS] project;
(2) Dedicate City staff time to search and apply for eligible grants;
(3) Have staff provide monthly progress assessments to the Council; and
(4) Set Memorial weekend 2025 as the target for reopening.
On August 26, 2024, two of the above residents appealed the Council's decision to the California Coastal Commission. At the hearing for the case, February 6, 2025, the Commission ruled that continuing the temporary closure was not a substantial issue, and the appeal was denied. The Coastal Commission staff report for this case contains a wealth of information on the history and issues involving the Axel Lindgren Memorial Trail.
Most recently, before a joint meeting of the Trinidad Planning Commission and City Council April 8, 2025, the Trinidad City Planner posted:
“The City continues to work with the Tsurai Management Team (TMT) to look at both short and long-term repairs to the Axel Lindgren Memorial Trail and ways to address the bluff instability. It is likely not going to be feasible to get the entire trail to the beach open before this summer. City staff are working with the TMT on a proposal to open a portion of the trail prior to the expiration of the current closure on May 23.”
So this is where we are with repairing, re-routing, re-designing and re-opening the Axel Lindgren Memorial Trail as of April 8, 2025.