San Diego City Wire

In a ceremony at Luelf Pond County Preserve, a trail was named in honor of John Degenfelder, a long-time resident and advocate for the Ramona community. The dedication was carried out by County Parks and the Ramona Trails Association during a ribbon-cutting event on Tuesday.

Family members and representatives from the Ramona Trails Association participated in the ceremony, with a representative from County Supervisor Joel Anderson also present. Following the dedication, park rangers led attendees on a hike along the newly named trail.

Degenfelder, now in his mid-nineties, has been instrumental in various community projects. He co-founded the Ramona Trails Association with his late wife in the 1980s and was involved in founding other local organizations such as the Mounted Patrol and the Ramona Community Foundation, which recently received an award for Non-Profit of the Year.

He also played significant roles in local developments, serving on and chairing the Ramona Community Planning Group and contributing to projects like the "Welcome to Ramona" sign. His collaboration with former County Supervisor Dianne Jacob led to the Santa Maria Creek Staging Area dedication in June 2014. Degenfelder continues to be active, organizing monthly meetings on future trail initiatives such as the Santa Maria Creek Greenway and leading creek cleanup efforts.

Additionally, he helped establish the Ramona United Methodist Church and recently passed on his duties as honorary mayor of Ramona after six years of service.

The newly designated Degenfelder Trail replaces what was known as Luelf Pond Trail. This one-mile-long shaded path is accessible to hikers, cyclists, and equestrians with parking available at Holly Oaks County Park. It features scenic views under coast live oaks and forms part of nearly two miles of trails within the 90-acre preserve. More information about parks and trails can be found at sdparks.org.