Valued trailhead at risk

Concerning the Indiana Avenue extension, the citizens have a right to be concerned about the future of the popular Mission road trailhead, which provides trail and river access for runners, innertubers, kayakers and more. The plans shown by the city include what Steve Worley, engineer for the city, describes as a “sketch on a napkin,” but is a professionally drawn plan of the trailhead consumed by upscale housing.

The “gift” of property by the developers bought for their development infrastructure costing many times the “gift.” This process also obviated the obligation for public input.

It would be morally corrupt to obliterate this popular trailhead/river access that has existed legally for generations, just to provide short-term monetary gain for a few developers.

The cost of curbing and paving for the parking lot and pathways to bring this trailhead up to the standards of the encompassing project is minuscule in the greater scheme of things and would be an investment that can be appreciated by the residents (and tourists) for many more generations. The image of our city would be enhanced by a first-class access point to a world-class free-running portion of our beautiful river.

Alden Sherrodd

Spokane Valley