Major funding has been secured in the newly passed California State Budget that will permit the City of of Folsom to move forward with a segment of one of the city’s most unique trails. Today, Folsom resident and California State Assemblyman Josh Hoover announced the passage of the California budget bill that secures $425,000 to the City of Folsom Parks & Recreation Department for the Johnny Cash Trail Art Experience – Cash’s Pick No. 2.
Folsom’s Johnny Cash Trail, a bike and pedestrian trail that borders Folsom State Prison, was completed in 2017. Folsom Parks & Recreation is currently fundraising to install a world-class linear public art experience that will celebrate and honor the legendary Johnny Cash, his music, and his strong connection to the City of Folsom. As part of the public art project, installments at the beginning and end of the trail will feature “Cash’s Pick”, 7 foot tall bronze guitar picks. The funding secured by Assemblyman Hoover will be used for the design and fabrication of Cash’s Pick No. 2. The first pick is currently slated to be installed by early 2024.
“I am excited to announce significant state funding for the Johnny Cash Trail Art Experience in Folsom,” said Assemblyman Hoover. “These investments will be an amazing benefit for the residents in our community and will bring this amazing city landmark one step closer to fruition for visitors to enjoy.”
“The City of Folsom extends its heartfelt gratitude to Assemblyman Josh Hoover for securing substantial state funding to bolster the Johnny Cash Trail Art Experience”, said City of Folsom Mayor Rosario Rodriguez. “This remarkable contribution will financially support Cash’s Pick No. 2, marking a significant milestone in the city’s efforts to install a world-class public art experience to celebrate and honor the legendary Johnny Cash, his music, and his connection to the City of Folsom.
The City of Folsom completed and opened the Johnny Cash Trail on October 14, 2017 – a 2.5 mile Class I bike and pedestrian trail that majestically connects the Folsom Historic District home to restaurants and shops to the Folsom Lake Crossing Trail welcoming visitors to the heart of historic Folsom.
“Just as Cash’s iconic career started with a humble guitar pick, soon, every walk, run, and ride on the Johnny Cash trail will begin with Cash’s iconic pick,” added Rodriguez. “Each month, thousands enjoy the trail and its surrounding natural beauty, while enjoying the benefits of exercise. Thanks to this generous support, we can now integrate additional public art into the fabric of the Johnny Cash Trail, further enriching the experience for all who traverse it.”
About the Johnny Cash Trail
The trail connects not only two of the area’s beautiful waterways – the American River and Folsom Lake – but also two places of extensive historic interest: Historic Folsom District and Folsom Prison. Curving through rolling hills dotted with oak trees, the trail travels along the edge of prison grounds.
Designed to encourage community enrichment, the trail is open to all. Whether on bike or by foot, the trail provides plenty of opportunity to get out into nature and enjoy the benefits of exercise.
Fundraising continues and is essential for the future development and placement of the art experiences that will adorn the trial; eight art installations inspired by the Man in Black and his historic performance in Folsom. The beautiful sculptures – designed and created by local public art firm Romo Studios and the Illinois based Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt Amrany – will be placed along the trail alongside breathtaking natural vistas.
Johnny Cash may be the inspiration behind this one-of-a-kind project, but it’s the local community who will get the most benefit from the trail and public art.
Folsom’s 50+ miles of beautiful, paved trails are considered by many residents to be one of the City’s most cherished assets. Folsom’s trail network takes cyclists and pedestrians on a journey through greenbelts, dedicated open space corridors, wooded areas with native oaks, through wildlife habitats, and past creeks, streams, lakes, and rivers.
The Johnny Cash Trail is only 2.5 miles long, but it connects to Folsom’s already expansive trail network. Most notably, the trail connects to the American River Trail, recognized as one of the top bike trails in the nation.
The 32-mile long American River Trail, also known as the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, is used by approximately 5 million people annually. The origin of the trail dates back to the 1800s, when Jedediah Smith broke a trail between Old Sacramento and Folsom. Largely abandoned for many decades, after automotive travel took over as the main mode of transportation, the trail was rediscovered by cyclists and paved in the 1970s to be enjoyed again.
The Johnny Cash Trail connects with existing trail in the Historic Folsom District, where cyclists can access the Folsom connector onto the American River Trail.
The Master Plan for the Johnny Cash Trail can be reviewed HERE.
