Good News! Funding for Greenway Projects
The Washington State Legislature appropriated $42 million for parks, trails and wildlife habitat through the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.
This is wonderful news for Washington State and for the Mountains to Sound Greenway. Such a commitment from Washington State policy makers and residents speaks directly to the Greenway mission of preserving a balance between people and nature, which is key to the high quality of life we enjoy in the Northwest.
Funded projects in the Greenway include:
- East Lake Sammamish Trail Development – King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks will develop 1 mile of 12’ paved trail in Issaquah to complete the 11 mile East Lake Sammamish Trail, including a new retaining wall, landscaping, fences, signs, and traffic controls. This important regional trail links Redmond, Sammamish and Issaquah.
- Duthie Hill Park Trailhead Development – A new trailhead is coming to the region’s first mountain bike skills park. New facilities will include a 75-vehicle parking lot, signage and improvements for this 120-acre King County park.
- Cougar Mountain Precipice Trail property acquisition – Acquisition of 55 acres will expand the 3,100-acre Cougar Mountain Wildland Park. The land is in the “Precipice Trail” area adjacent to Issaquah. Acquiring land in this area has been a long-time priority of King County, Issaquah, and the Mountains to Sound Greenway. 40 acres which border Newport Way will be used for a trailhead and parking lot, creating a park entrance in Issaquah that is walking distance from the regional transit center.
- Tiger Mountain State Forest Trail Bridges – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources will replace a collapsed trail bridge, install two new trail bridges, and build a new 2-mile trail connection in the popular recreation destination, Tiger Mountain State Forest.
- Mailbox Peak Trail Development – Mailbox Peak is a popular, steep trail that leads to an actual mailbox at the 4800-foot summit with sweeping views into the Cascades, Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley and the ridgeline that includes Mt. Si and Mt. Teneriffe. The Spring Family Trust for Trails commissioned the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust in 2003 to design this new route, which will enable the land managers, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, to improve public safety and ecological health by replacing the current boot-built trail with a trail that can withstand heavy recreational use from a potential 100,000 hikers each year.
In this 20th anniversary year for the Mountains to Sound Greenway, projects such as these build on the many accomplishments of the past two decades that helped preserve this spectacular landscape. These investments in ecological and recreation infrastructure in a challenging economic climate speak highly of our collective dedication to keeping the Greenway a special place for future generations.
