Trail committee selects two pilot sites
Friday, May 5, 2006 1:07 PM PDT
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| JESSICA KELLER | ARGUS OBSERVER
Despite being underwater from recent flooding, this stretch of land along the Snake River has been selected as one of two ideal demonstration trail sites for the Ontario greenbelt system by the Four Rivers Healthy Community Greenbelt Trails committee. The committee decided to pursue both projects.
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JESSICA KELLER ARGUS OBSERVER
ONTARIO
The Four Rivers Healthy Community Greenbelt Trails committee selected two pilot trail site areas for its pathway system at its monthly meeting Thursday.
The committee also approved a proposed greenbelt trail map to identify where the greenbelt system would run.
The two decisions are big steps for the committee, which has been meeting for some time with a goal of developing a greenbelt system throughout the city.
The Healthy Community Greenbelt Trails Committee is a volunteer organization sponsored by Holy Rosary Medical Center, although city officials and staff are also involved with the committee.
Ontario city engineering technician Tom Davis explained the trail system and the rationale for where it would go at the meeting. He explained, however, the map can be changed as circumstances arise. The only amendments to the map decided upon at the meeting were a graded trail separate from the Yturri Beltline for pedestrians and bicyclists and the addition of striped bicycle lanes in different colors on the map.
The rest of the discussion Thursday mainly centered around the best area for a demonstration trail that members hope will spike the interest of the community and reflect the commitment. Of the entire trail system, two areas were selected, including a mile-long stretch running next to the Snake River along Wal-Mart and city property, dubbed the River walk. The other trail area is a two and a half to three mile circle on city-owned property in the northwest area of town that runs adjacent to the Malheur River for most of it, and could cross it at some point.
“I'm pretty torn between the two sites,” Ontario City Manager Scott Trainor said.
“These are ones you can do relatively quickly in the next three of four years,” Dan Miller, the National Parks Service consultant hired by the committee to help with the process, said.
Miller said the northwest Ontario circle would not necessarily have to be that fancy or expensive to develop because a country setting with a basic asphalt trail may be appealing to trail-users.
“It'd be pretty neat to work on both,” he said, adding each proposed demonstration trail offers a different feel and setting for users to enjoy.
Holy Rosary Medical Center representative Luke Larson said the Four Rivers Healthy Communities received its non-profit status and is in the process of gaining its tax status. He said he was pretty sure a temporary use could be filed in the meantime to allow the greenbelt committee to move forward on grants so a more detailed trail could be developed along the river walk.
“So we're in good standing to start applying for grants and stuff,” he said.
Miller suggested the committee do both at the same time, even if they were more basic in nature because of resource limitations. He said it would always be possible to expand on the infrastructure and amenities later.
“I really like the idea of going to both at once,” Ontario Mayor LeRoy Cammack said. “And the reason why is I think you can gain more community support by doing that.”
Larson felt differently, however, stating he thought a complete trail would better demonstrate how serious the committee was about the plan.
“My thinking is I'd really like to have something that really looks finished,” Larson said. The group, however, decided to begin on both demonstration trail projects, with the anticipation the more primitive country trail in northwest Ontario would be completed first, but a river walk trail plan could be underway and soon follow. Also the board decided Larson would approach the Ontario City Council with the map plans and the trail pilot concepts for its approval, rather than having it be submitted by a city staff volunteer. Trainor said after the meeting a subcommittee has already been formed that will work with Wal-Mart on a property agreement.
No Dhimmi wrote on Aug 14, 2009 9:38 PM:
And this isn't "racist," because Islam is not a race, anymore than Communism or Nazism are races, both of which killed far fewer people than Islam.
Disgusting. "