Contact us

Jayme Gorton
Executive Director

By Phone:
(253)  845 2973

By e-mail
jaymeg@forevergreencouncil.org

Office hours

Monday-Friday
9 a.m. to 4:30  p.m.

Board  meetings
    Our noon meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, except in August.
 

On opening day of the Soundview Trail, Councilman Terry Lee describes some of the challenges associated with building trails in Pierce County.

Walkers and runners flock to the newly opened Soundview Trail, which serves half of the county's population in the cities of Tacoma, University Place and Lakewood. On the Soundview Trail, cyclist can enjoy spectaculr views, but will need low gears to climb the steep grades.

Cyclist lean into a turn on the Scott Pierson trail which opened in May.  It connects the Narrows Bridge to arterials in Tacoma.

Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg pushed the Public Works Department to make the Soundview Trail a priority.  As a result, it was the first amenity of the 900 acre Chambers Bay Park to open to thepublic. "I hope you will be inspired by this leadership and join us in asking our federal and state legislatures to help in making this dream of a countywide trail system a reality."                                 -- Terry Lee

Commuters cycling from Gig Harbor can cross the Narrows Bridge and avoid Tacoma arterials by riding the Scott Pierson Trail to near downtown.

Three new trails open in May & June

By Terry Lee

Saturday, June 2, was National Trails Day.  As part of the celebration, runners participated in a 50-mile Foothills Trail relay from Mount Rainier to Ruston, in an event called R2R.  They found, however, that only 14.5 miles of the Foothills Trail are paved.  Runners had to use some side roads and back streets before they reached Puyallup.  The largest missing link in what should be a trail system is through Fife and Tacoma, so runners encountered traffic problems and more obstacles.

 The grand opening for the Riverwalk Trail in Puyallup was also on Saturday.  By making incremental progress, Pierce County has added an average of a mile each year - mostly in isolated sections.  At this rate, the county's envisioned 100-mile trail system could take a century to complete.  But this year progress accelerated.  In the last month, a 3.3-mile trail section was added at the Pierce County Chambers Creek property and the 5-mile Scott Pierson Trail opened connecting Tacoma to Gig Harbor.  But the plan for a trail system to connect all the county's cities remains largely unfunded.

Every month, the ForeverGreen Council meets to report on progress in creating a countywide trail system.  The council members are well suited to find the funding and set priorities on planning.  The board is comprised of elected officials from Tacoma and the Pierce County Council and includes the superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park, local park directors, a doctor, and trail advocates.  Barbara Skinner, retired mayor of Sumner, is president this year.

The challenge is huge.  Connecting trails between all the cities in the county would cost over $100 million.  But this year, that daunting amount was whittled because an effective long-range plan is in place.  The success came from a common focus, the persistence of board members, and the cooperation of bike trail advocates and organizations.

In my County Council district, I've been able to find funding and gain the cooperation of Tacoma Power and the City of Gig Harbor to extend the Cushman Trail.  Soon, with the opening of the Narrows Bridge, a bike commuter will be able to ride safely to Tacoma.And more beach-walkers will soon have access to the Narrows shoreline when a new section of the Cushman Trail descends to the water.

 County Executive John Ladenburg shares the vision of a countywide trail.  He was instrumental in acquiring railroad right-of-way along the Carbon River.  He also approved a new grant writer for Pierce County parks and pushed his public works department to complete the 3.3-mile trail around Chambers Bay Golf Course. Although the golf course has yet to open, the trail is already in use.  Offering spectacular views of Puget Sound and the Olympics, it has proved to be a hit.

 To address the missing trail link from Tacoma to Puyallup, the County Council appropriated funds this year.  Planning is moving forward on a new link between Tacoma and Mount Rainier through Graham and Eatonville.  The first section of this trail between Elbe and Ashford is ready for engineering, while the parks grant writer searches for trail funding.

 The ForeverGreen Council uses a model of cooperation to move its transportation plans forward.  In discussing long-range funding, all the cities are included.  This year's goals are focused on the missing trail linking Auburn to Algona and Pacific.  Small towns are included in this all-cities trail system.

In May, I traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of an effort to secure federal funding; the lobbying effort focused on acquiring $750,000 for trail projects.  When funded, these projects will make it possible to travel an east-west corridor across the county from Gig Harbor to Buckley within the next few years.

On any Sunday, trail segments are crowded with runners, skaters and strollers; everyone is included.  Rural trails have room for horseback riders, too.   Before the ForeverGreen Council developed its long-range plan, local trails stopped at jurisdictional boundaries; no organization focused on a countywide system of trails. 

To improve trails by next year's National Trails Day, the County Council will consider adding trail staff.  ForeverGreen Council board members will continue to seek long-term funding through the Legislature.  Trail users and supporters can join us in asking our federal and state legislatures to help make our dream of a countywide trail system a reality.

Copyright 2006, by ForeverGreen Council