Trail Planners Seek Input From Public

Thu., April 27, 2000

By Isamu Jordan isamuj@spokesman.com

The Friends of the Little Spokane River Valley have trailblazing plans.

A committee for the group is endeavoring to develop a nonmotorized trail system linking schools and businesses in the Spokane River Valley, taking special note of historical areas.

The group of natural space and wildlife defenders is looking for public input to help establish boundaries for the trail.

They have held public meetings and mailed more than 1,500 questionnaires about the project to area residents.

About 250 households responded to the questionnaire, and 88 percent of those supported the idea, according to a press release from the group.

“The first thing they say is, `I don’t want everyone walking through my property.’ But that was minor. The general response was positive to the development for a trail system,” said Bud Green, a member of the trails committee.

Jim Egeland joined the committee weeks ago when he saw information posted in a grocery store.

“We’re trying to get public input to determine where the trail should be, and the public is wanting to know what we’re doing,” Egeland said.

Kristen Levar, a Washington State University landscape design student, will design the trail as a course project in May 2001.

A design planning workshop open to the public is scheduled for October, but those interested can share their comments earlier.

A public meeting will be held May 8 at 7 p.m. at Covenant United Methodist Church. The trails committee is looking for input on boundaries, connections with other trails, and trailhead designs.

“We know that development is fast and strong, and we don’t want that to supercede the natural environment we have,” Green said.

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