Long-time hills residents Herb and Adrienne Bryant know the trails of Shepherd Canyon Park like the back of their hands.

But to get to some of these trails, the Bryants -- and others who walk, jog or ride bikes through the park -- must cross Shepherd Canyon Road, on which speeding cars often travel.

To make the road safer and make it easier for people to use the park's trails, the Bryants are suggesting that a foot bridge be built over Shepherd Canyon Road to connect both sides of the hilly park.

They shared this idea with more than 20 hills residents at a Saturday public forum sponsored by City Councilwoman Jean Quan, District 4, and the Shepherd Canyon Homeowners Association. The meeting, held at Montera Middle School, aimed to get input from residents on the park, as well as to help the community develop a plan of action for the open green space.

The forum was the first of two meetings on plans for the park. The second meeting will take from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 8 at the same location, when the focus will be on identifying and prioritizing ways to implement a new vision for the park.

The park -- part of a 34-acre area set aside by the city as park land and a nature preserve in 1975 -- includes 22 wooded acres, several open meadows, a soccer field and the railroad trail on the west side of Shepherd Canyon Road. The Shepherd Canyon Open Space is located slightly east of Montclair Village, along Shepherd Canyon Road.

Some of residents' ideas for the park include: Expanding and repairing the soccer field's parking lot, posting signs to mark park trails, adding more play areas and creating an outdoor theater and dog park.

Residents like Andy Kleiber suggested that eucalyptus trees be cut down because of the fire hazard they pose.

Susan Jacobson, a cyclist who's taken a walking tour of the park with the Bryants, said she wants stripes painted on Shepherd Canyon Road to provide some safety for bike riders.

Quan would like to see marked park trails students can use to walk to Montera Middle School. She thinks trail marking can help children get to school on foot -- and take 50 to 80 cars off Shepherd Canyon Road, which would ease traffic congestion during the morning rush.

Funding for park improvements, though, is currently limited. Quan's plan is to help create a public and private foundation for the park.

Quan and members of the Shepherd Canyon Homeowners' Association said Saturday that a community-based plan is critical to determine how to allocate any and all park funds.

The city's General Plan, adopted in 1996, called for the development of an updated master plan for the park. In May 2003, Quan convened a task force to address open space planning in the park and surrounding areas of the hills.

Quan -- who was joined at Saturday's meeting by city staff in the public works, planning and fire departments -- said District 4 is a unique part of the city, with unique needs.

"This is an area that is still pretty pristine. The park's trails are part of the draw to Montclair," Quan said.

"(The park) belongs to the future generation of kids," she added.

Mike Petouhoff , president of the Shepherd Canyon homeowners group, said many people who drive by up and down Shepherd Canyon Road are unaware of the area's 34 acres of dedicated park land.

Something else many residents may be unaware of is Shepherd Creek, which runs through the park and is underground in some areas, he said.

It's important to make good use of the open green space in the hills, Petouhoff stressed, and he hopes public forums on the park will help residents identify "smart" ideas for the park.

Former City Councilman Dick Spees, now president of Piedmont Pines Club, said his neighborhood association is also helping SCHA organize the next meeting on Oct. 8.