APPLICATIONS for grants to build two trails were approved Wednesday night by the Westminster City Council.

Applications for grants to build two trails along the old U.S Navy railroad right-of-way were approved by the Westminster City Council Wednesday night.

At the request of Councilman Sergio Contreras, city staff composed written applications to the California Natural Resources Urban Greening Program to construct:

• “The Mendez Historic Trail and Green Street Bikeway Project,” which would run along the west side of Hoover Street from Bolsa Avenue and Garden Grove Boulevard. It would include a bicycle trail and educational information about the landmark 1945 Mendez v. Westminster court case which outlawed segregation in California public schools.
• “The Westminster Nature Activity Trail” along the abandoned railroad easement from Chestnut Street and Edwards Street. It would feature an asphalt bicycle trail and decomposed granite pedestrian trail, landscaping, irrigation, lighting, outdoor exercise equipment and other park amenities.

Sylvia Mendez, who as a child was the subject of the Mendez vs. Westminster case, was present at the meeting. The court’s ruling was cited as a precedent in the better-known 1954 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court which banned segregation in public schools across the nation. The Mendez lawsuit included not just the Westminster School District but also school systems in El Modena (Orange), Garden Grove and Santa Ana.