Comments sought on draft plan

ELLENSBURG — Kittitas Valley residents are invited to review a plan that connects local recreation trails with pathways in the Yakima River Canyon, and then give their opinion on what they think about the scheme.

The concept plan calls the proposed 10-mile network the City-to-Canyon Trails, according to a news release.

Also planned is a Sept. 29 open house for the public to further view the trail system.

A small group of community partners, including the nonprofit Cascade Land Conservancy and public land owners, have been meeting during the course of two years with assistance from the National Park Service River and Trails program to create a concept plan for connecting local and regional trails to the Yakima River Canyon.  

The local committee is now seeking comments on this draft concept plan that’s online at Web sites operated by the city of Ellensburg and Kittitas County Public Health Department.

A committee spokeswoman said the group hopes local residents will review the draft plan and share their thoughts and comments via e-mail with the committee.

The approximate 10-mile route takes advantage of publicly owned parcels, as well as a trail section with cooperating private landowners. 

Eight distinct trail segments are recommended for connecting the north and south anchor points — the John Wayne Pioneer Trail at Faust Road and Helen McCabe State Park, respectively — with several local, regional and state recreation sites along the route.

The City-to-Canyon Trails network will also provide a direct link to Ellensburg neighborhoods, the city’s Central Business District, the Central Washington University campus, the John Wayne Pioneer trailhead north of the Kittitas County Fairgrounds via the city’s River-to-Rodeo Trail connection at Rotary Park, and to the John Wayne Pioneer trailhead near Faust Road via the Ellensburg west interchange retail area and neighborhoods.

An open house to view trail plans and maps and talk to committee members is scheduled for Sept. 29, 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Ellensburg City Hall, 501 N. Anderson St.

In addition there will be displays of sections of the draft plan placed in city and county offices and properties with public comment cards.

View the City-to-Canyon Trails, then comment

The draft trail plan is online at:
    • http://www.shapeupkc.org
    • http://www.ci.ellensburg.wa.us/forms/recreation/8.13.09DraftCity-to-CanyonTrailsPlan.pdf

Copies are also available from:
    • Sarah Bedsaul, Shape Up Kittitas County, 962-7680, e-mail — sarahb@co.kittitas.wa.us
    • Brad Case, city of Ellensburg Parks and Recreation Department, 925-8639, e-mail — caseb@cityofellensburg.org.

Comments and questions may be directed to either Bedsaul or Case via e-mail or telephone.