Improving Trails - Clark County needs more soft paths
Compiled by Columbian staff
Tuesday, January 3, 2006
When Lewis and Clark passed through this area 200 years ago, fatigued by months of hardship, inclement weather and illness, they could have used a good trail system to get around on. And how appreciative they'd have been to find that trail system made of wood- chips instead of pavement.
Well, the boys were 200 years too early. But we all might be just in time.
Not only are trail enthusiasts working on a blueprint for a countywide trail system, those trails might incorporate foot paths made of soft materials that better accommodate walkers and runners, from the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad property and new waterfront routes to China Ditch Community Park in Hockinson. And the wider the running path, the better. That way, individuals and groups of walkers and runners could better share the paths .
Kelly Punteney, trails and greenway planner with Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation, says the cost to incorporate running trails with bike paths is insignificant. Making the corridor available is the key. He suggested running clubs and high school teams could help with maintenance. "If there are enough people who want to jog, it will happen," he told us last week. The city and county are short on such footpaths. Most trails in the area accommodate bikers, but it's difficult to find ideal running trails.
Clark County and Vancouver could learn a thing or two from cities such as Seattle and Eugene and Bend, Ore., where foot paths are often built in tandem with paved trails. With more people involved in running and jogging than any other sport in many cities, it's easy to see how such paths help draw new businesses and workers.
The desire to have more soft paths for walkers and runners came up several times at a November brainstorming session attended by 302 people. Punteney organized the symposium, "Blazing New Trails," to gather ideas that will be passed on to county commissioners in March. If you care about running/walking paths , e-mail to Punteney at kelly.punteneyci.vancouver.wa.us.
The blueprint will become the new Clark County Trail & Bikeway System Plan, 1806-2006. The plan will be presented to the public on April 6. The date is significant. On that date 200 years ago, Lewis and Clark departed today's Clark County and returned to St. Louis.