PUBLIC LANDS — Volunteers are planning to pick up and spruce up a couple of prized outdoors recreation features in the Spokane area this weekend.

Unveil the (Centennial) Trail, Saturday (April 20), 9 a.m.-noon

About 350 volunteers have pre-registered for the annual clean-up, working in sections to cover the entire 37.5-mile Centennial Trail from the stateline to Nine Mile Falls. The trail attracts two million visits a year.

Dishman Hills Service Day, Sunday (April 21), 9 a.m.-noon

BICYCLING — The second annual Spokane Bike Swap — a one-stop shop for people interested in buying or selling a bicycle — is set for April 13-14, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m both days, at Spokane County Fair & Expo Center.

There's no better time or place to make a deal on a bike, and the 5 percent consignment fee supports a cycling gem — the Spokane River Centennial Trail.

The event will feature a wide range of used bikes in the bike corral and seven local bike shops with new bikes and accessories.

Admission: $5 or kids under 13 free.

Sellers: check in bikes April 12 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Sellers are urged to pre-register online.

“The goal of the Bike Swap is to enhance Spokane County's biking community by providing affordable bikes for transportation, recreation and fitness,” said LeAnn Yamamoto, event director.

DONATIONS AND FREEBIES

Free bike helmets:  a limit number will be available April 13 for kids ages 3-16 in families of financial hardship through the Kiwanis Paint-A-Helmet program.

 Donate a bike: You can donate a bike to sell for the total benefit of the Centennial Trail.  The Friends of the Centennial Trail will store the bike if you want to bring it in days before the event.  Call (509) 624-7188. 

 TRAILS — Numbers stood out to me in several cases as I researched today's Outdoors column on the Spokane River Centennial Trail, a 37-mile ribbon of park that's the envy of cities across the country.

Four years ago, Riverside State Park had two full-time Centennial Trail rangers and a seasonal maintenance crew.  State budgets cuts have slashed the staffing to one seasonal ranger.  Period.

The trail is used about 2 million times a year, yet only 350 people are signed up as members of the Friends of the Centennial Trail, a group that's critical to the sustainability and development of the trail.

Even if you never set foot, bike or skate on the trail, it's worth supporting just to have it there for our citizens and our visitors and to keep the river shores open to the public going into a future that will see even more pressure for riverside development.

Check out the Friends of the Spokane River Centennial Trail website and consider becoming a member or making an additional contribution to the Trail Builders Fund.

TRAILS — The Spokane River Centennial Trail is closed between miles 7 and 9 through Nov. 24 as workers  repair the erosion damage to the trail west of Barker, reports Kaye Turner of the Friends of the Centennial Trail.

The detour flows from the Walt Worthy building bollards (near the basalt water fountain; east of Sullivan and Krispy Kreme) out onto Indiana Parkway.

Progress east through the new round-about onto Flora going north until it curves right, east, onto Montgomery. 

At the “T” intersection of Montgomery and Riverway, turn right heading slightly south then east to the “T” intersection with Barker. 

Turn left, north, onto Barker. The Barker Trail Head is on the right before the bridge.

TRAILS — The Spokane River Centennial Trail — celebrating its 20th anniversary — is listed on Sunset Magazine's list of 20 Best Bike Paths in the West.

That's no suprise to people who live here, and ongoing improvements are steadily making the riverside trail even better.

But wait:  There's no mention of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.

Most of the trails on the list have an urban link. That makes marketing sense, but it clearly diverts attention to what some people might consider the BEST trails.

For info on more trails, check in with the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

HIKING — My Honey and I were city-hiking along the Spokane River today. I caught Meredith among blossoming trees near the Ft. George Wright Cemetery, with a backdrop of Mount Spokane still shrouded in snow.

Popular recreation sites around Spokane will be getting a major spring facelift this weekend from volunteer efforts supported by grants totaling $20,000 from Recreational Equipment, Inc.

Projects the Spokane outdoor equipment store is supporting in partnership with local groups include:

Centennial Trail, Saturday 9 a.m. – The 20th annual Unveil the Trail event, supported by a $5,000 REI grant to the Friends of the Centennial Trail, taps volunteer groups to spruce up sections of the 39-mile paved trail along the Spokane River. Preregister to join a group and get a free lunch, 624-7188.

Mirabeau Point boat access, Saturday, 9 a.m. – A $10,000 REI grant to the Spokane River Forum funded an overhaul of the Spokane River access for rafts, canoes and kayaks fall. Volunters plan to finish the work and prepare the area for hydroseeding, which is being funded by the Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club.

Dishman Hills Natural Area, Sunday, 1 p.m. – Hundreds of volunteers already are signed up for the Earth Day work project to pick up litter, restore habitat, improve trails and other projects based out of Camp Caro in Spokane Valley.  The project is backed by a $5,000 grant to the Dishman Hills Natural Area Association. Preregister for t-shirt and food at www.rei.com/Spokane.

TRAILS – Volunteers will be gathering all along the Spokane River Centennial Trail on Saturday to wail on weeds, pick up litter and sweep it clean.

To join the group, and enjoy the free lunch, preregister by Friday for the 20th annual Friends of the Centennial Trail “Unveil the Trail” event.

REI has contributed $5,000 to cover the cost of park rental, giveaways, prizes, food and other event costs.

TRAILS — The 4th annual Friends of the Centennial Trail  Adventure Auction is set for March 9 at Northern Quest Resort and Casino.

Silent auction starts at 6 p.m.; dinner's at 7 p.m.; live auction at 8 p.m.

People who support the fabulous 39-mile trail from Nine Mile to the Idaho State Line (and beyond) already are getting tickets and gathering friends to join them at tables for a feast.

“Eighty percent of the proceeds go directly into our Trail Builders fund for projects on the Trail,” said Kaye Turner, the friends group's executive director. “Remember the bumps at Barker Road - our Trail Builders fund fixed those.”

Kris Crocker, KXLY's star weather reporter, will once again be the MC — and she's gathering a table of friends, too.

Tickets: 624-7188 or e-mail friends@spokanecentennialtrail.org.  

TRAILHEADS — Vandalism to cars parked at Centennial Trail parking lots and boating access sites continues to be a problem. 

Paddlers report a smash (a window) and grab incident at Mirabeau Park over the weekend, although they said nothing of value was taken.

Dealing with these opportunistic low-life theives is much like preventing damage by raccoons and other vermin: Don't leave and “food” out. 

In otherwords, it's not enough to make sure nothing “valuable” is left in your vehicle at a trailhead.

Make sure that nothing at all tempting is visible through the windows to entice a creep into a smash and grab incident.

TRAIL REROUTED: Upriver Drive from Freya to Frederick:

A sewer construction project will create an Upriver Drive detour for Centennial Trail users for almost a year, the Friends of the Centennial Trail report.

The trail will be closed from Freya to Frederick Avenue on Upriver Drive. There will be a detour in place and signage to guide users.

The Friends group has maps and details on its website.

Directions: Coming from downtown going east take Ralph to Carlisle to Havana to Fredrick and back out on Upriver Drive. It may be possible at times to let Trail users back onto the east section of Upriver Dr. at times during this project. If you have a street bike avoid signed detour onto gravel road sections. 

TRAILS — Several construction projects are affecting recreationists traveling the Spokane River Centennial Trail this season.

The newest project involves construction under the Trent Bridge, set to start July 25.

Contractors will be laying ATT cable. Work will be through the week and perhaps into the week of Aug. 1. Trail closures of 2-3 hours are likely at the end of the week of July 25th or the beginning of the week of August 1.

For updates on other construction projects and the Thursday announcement of the membership drive bicycle drawing winner, check out the Friends of the Centennial Trail website.

TRAILS — Forget the freaking Washington State Lottery. If you want a GOOD chance to win something valuable, join the Friends of the Centennial Trail.

People who become members by Friday (July 15) get their name entered in a drawing to win a Trek 7.2 FX 20-inch bicycle, sponsored by Two Wheel Transit.

It's a nifty bike, and the odds are outrageous.  Only about 60 people have signed up in this campaign.

Check out the details on the Friends' website or call (509) 624-7188.

• Incidentally, the Friends are worth donations beyond membership. They do great things to help push forward major projects, including proposed overpasses as streets such as Mission Ave.

TRAILS — A new 12-vehicle parking lot and trailhead for the Spokane River Centennial Trail officially opens today east of Argonne Road at the end of Maringo Drive.

See map.

The new facilities were built by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, with the support of the Friends of the Centennial Trail, Washington State Park Foundation and Inland Empire Paper Co.

This much-needed parking lot will enable trail users to avoid parking in a residential area. The Maringo Trailhead already included restroom facilities and a drinking fountain.

IN THE FIELD — Some editors like to feature photos of readers showing off their publications while vacationing in exotic places.

But here at The Spokesman-Review, we like to see people reading the paper close to home, and offering news tips at the same time.

In this photo, Kent Larson and his daughter, Ramsey, pore over the paper — or should that be pour over the news — during a Centennial Trail cruise near Avista headquarters. 

The news:   The Spokane River is still running a bit high.

The question:  Isn't it illegal to be reading the paper in the Spokane River without wearing a PFD?

CONSERVATION — Two worthy local outdoor causes are having fun feasts and auctions this weekend:

The Centennial Trail's third annual Adventure Auction is Friday at Northern Quest Casino. 

• Info: 624-7188. The Friends of the Centennial Trail donate funds to trail construction.

Friends of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge will hold their fourth annual dinner and auction on Sunday, noon-4 p.m., at the Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln St. in Spokane.

• Tickets cost $25 for Friends members and $30 for nonmembers. Price includes a pasta dinner. Info: CraigCorder, 2cbird@hughes.net

The Friends of Turnbull event helps fund Turnbull’s environmental education programs, which have introduced thousands of children to quality nature experiences. 

RIVERS — Members of the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club, pictured above unloading their boats at the popular Spokane River Centennial Trail access at Mission and Flora on Sunday, are working to assure that the access won't be gobbled up by development plans.

The access is important for Spokane River paddlers using the Sullivan Rapids area as well as for all Valley users of the Centennial Trail.

Club members have received assurances from city officials have said the access will remain open this summer during the construction of the planned extension of Indiana Ave., where a roundabout will be built.

The club also is optimistic that plans can be drawn up to assure the access will be improved rather than degraded by future development.

TRAILS — The Indiana Avenue road extension project will limit access to the Centennial Trail and paddle-boat launching near Mission and Flora from April through July 4. 

Route changes in the area include new names for some of the roads, Spokane Valley officials said.

Since Indiana Avenue currently exists to the north of the project, the City has named the streets on the current project as Parkways and will change the name of Mission Avenue, west of Flora Road, to “Old Mission Avenue.”

Old Mission Avenue will provide the access to the Centennial Trail trailhead from the one lane westbound Mission Parkway. River users coming from the west on Indiana Avenue will be able to get to the Mission trailhead by circling through the roundabout at Mission Avenue and Flora Road and travelling a short distance down Mission Parkway to the Old Mission Avenue intersection.