Youth Summit Aims to Reimagine Pasadena’s 710 Stub Future

A 710 stub informative session (File Photo)

Local high school students are stepping into civic leadership with the upcoming “710 Youth Summit,” an event designed to engage young people in shaping the future of the long-disputed 710 stub.

By Rena Kurlander

Organized by students from John Muir High School and Sequoyah School, the summit will bring together youth from across the community to learn about the history of the 710 corridor and collaborate on ideas for its transformation.

The 710 project was originally launched to construct a freeway extension through Pasadena. In the process, thousands of residents—many from minority communities—were displaced, and entire neighborhoods were dismantled. The project was ultimately abandoned, leaving behind a 50-acre trench, often referred to as the “710 ditch,” cutting through the city.

Now, students are taking initiative to ensure that future decisions about the site reflect community needs and youth perspectives.

The summit will feature a series of interactive workshops where participants will develop action-oriented proposals for the site’s future. Attendees will also gain tools for sustaining long-term engagement with local government, equipping them to play an active role in civic planning processes. Local leaders are expected to speak at the event, sharing insights on the ongoing visioning efforts tied to the 710 corridor.

The event will take place at Practice Architecture Studio, located at 135 West Green Street in Pasadena, on Saturday, April 18, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.

Open to all youth and community members interested in the 710 stub project, the summit is part of the 710 Community Fellows Program. Organizers encourage participants to attend, collaborate, and contribute to reimagining a space that has long symbolized both disruption and possibility in Pasadena.

For more information and to RSVP, visit this link.