federal funds to help improve parks and public areas. His first project was to help restore sections of the 65 mile Backbone Trail, one of the most popular trails in the park and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The Congressman said, "The Backbone Trail provides thousands of hikers, bicyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts with an unparalleled recreational experience through the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains. These improvements will enhance that experience and improve safety for everyone that uses this popular trail." The money is going to go to clearing back brush on the trails, fixing and preventing landslides along the trail, and repairing the Chicken Bridge in the park. Hikers have reported significant improvements to the trails, and the project was completed in 2013. See also California chaparral and woodlands Chaparral List of flora of the Santa Monica Mountains References External links California State Parks: official Topanga State Park website Topanga Canyon Docents — includes information about the park's nature center. Image of young woman seated on a rock, Topanga Canyon in either the 1920s or 1930s. Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles. State parks of California Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Parks in Los Angeles Parks in Los Angeles County, California Nature centers in California Geography of Los Angeles County, California Topanga, California Santa Monica Mountains