Residents speak for why The John Wayne Trail is worth fighting for

Community members, legislators, and those representing not only themselves but also organizations, met in the Lind Union Elevator meeting room to discuss the future of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail.

Approximately 50 people gathered at 12 p.m. on Nov. 16 to speak their minds to the legislators.

Representative Joe Schmick began the meeting with a welcome and a wish to hear from each and every person in the room who chose to share their thoughts.

Representative Mary Dye, who was also in attendance, quickly reiterated this sentiment.

Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association (TTTA) member Ted Blasak addressed the group and presented the main arguments discussed at the meeting held in Rosalia the week prior.

The TTTA has 11 main points they would like the legislators to focus on. These include improvement in the spraying for noxious weeds, reinstating the ranger service, removing the permit requirement for recreationalists, removing the fees for farmers moving equipment on the trail, and to start a citizen litter patrol program.

The group would also like the trestles at Tekoa and Cow Creek restored as well as the Columbia River Crossing repaired.

The remaining points include improving rockslide removal and gravel grading, proper fences installed and maintained, and additional trailheads, water stations and bathrooms installed.

There were 32 members of the audience who took the time to speak their views on the issue, and the speeches addressed the majority of the 11 points outlined.

Paul Kimmell, who serves the Palouse Region as the Regional Business Manager for Avista, acted as the moderator for the event and ensured a smooth transition between each speaker.

Out of the 32 who spoke, six of these were landowners and not all of them asked for the closure of the trail.

Their main arguments brought to light the issue the trail has become in the 35 years it has been state owned and maintained.

A few landowners stated as long as there is no state money helping the trail, the land should go back to the adjacent landowners, as they are the ones maintaining the land already.

Those in support of the trail validated the landowners concerns, stating they have learned a great deal from these meetings about the real issues landowners face.

But they also spoke of the legacy of the trail. The John Wayne Pioneer Trail is the longest rail to trail conversion in the United States.

Trail supporters asked for tenacity from the legislation to help address the issues and to improve the trail for the future generations.

Sue Sackmann of Lind, the former Coordinator for the Noxious Weed Board, spoke of her time on the trail working with the Ranger Service to control the weeds. She stated once the ranger retired a replacement was never found and since then the weeds on the trail have not been as maintained as they once were.

The eastern area of the trail proposed to close, from the Columbia River to Malden, hosts some of the most geologically rare lands in the world.

Geologists study the area, as it closely resembles the surface of Mars in some sections. This area has been referred to as a transition zone, because the Ice Age Flood lands and where they wreaked their havoc centuries ago are still visible.

The Ice Age Flood Institute describes the development of Eastern Washington in this way, “Only a sudden cataclysmic flood, on a scale never before considered possible, could account for the phenomenal size and distinctive characteristics of the landforms.”

The idea of the Ice Age Flood shaping the land became only widely accepted in the 1950s. It helps researchers understand the geologic processes on Mars and also to study cyclical climate change and the potential of destructive floods.

The John Wayne Trail allows not only geologists and Boy Scout groups, who use the trail annually, but any interested patrons the ability to see this drastic landscape for themselves.

The economic impact of an across-the-state trail is very important to the east side of this state. Many people mentioned the revenue coming in from trail users who stop in small towns along the trail, such as Tekoa and Lind.

Blasak stated, “The Trail is vital to our economy and vital to our identity.”

Tekoa has a sign as visitors enter the city stating, “Welcome to the end of the John Wayne Trail.” The city of 843 has embraced their part of the legacy.

Jamie Schmunk, Mayor of Lind, spoke highly of the John Wayne Pioneer Wagon and Riders Association who have stopped in Lind. She also advised of the new campsite the Association built in Lind for their annual rides.

A large number of attendees stated a variation of, “an active trail is a clean trail.”

While this may be the case increasing the use of the trail depends on upkeep.

There would need to be significant commitment on the state’s behalf to maintain the trail’s weeds and fences, as well as reinstating a ranger service to ensure trespassing and vandalism does not continue to be prevalent for landowners.

The success of the trail on the west side proves the potential for revenue on the east side as well.

Many in attendance also mentioned the demand for bicycle tourism as it becomes more prevalent. The John Wayne Trail might be the used for a tour if it were maintained and easier to ride.

Those who spoke in support of the trail included citizens from all over the state as well as representatives of various organizations who use the trail. They all stated their willingness to volunteer to pick up trash and help with other projects to bring resolution to each side.

This same group of citizens also stated their opposition to the permit fee required for landowners to use the trail to move their farming equipment from one side of the trail to the other. This fee, originally proposed to be $1,000, is around $300.

Annie Smart who owns land on the trail in Lind stated, “I feel blessed that the trail crosses through our ranch.”

Her daughter holds a bake sale along the trail each year for the John Wayne Pioneer Wagon and Trail Riders as they come through. Her family feels a huge sense of community from the trail and she has met individuals from all over not just the state but also the country.

One landowner who has lived with the trail cutting through her land for 35 years brought to light the burden the upkeep of the trail is for the landowners in a way none of the previous speakers did.

Louise Bellsby discussed how she has to spend the $50 to $100 per mile of trail to spray the noxious weeds that have leeched their way onto her property.

She spoke of the $8,000 she has to spend to keep the same one-mile fenced so her cattle do not roam onto the trail.

Bellsby stated, “For all of you who really love this trail, I ask you to open your own wallet as I have done for 35 years.”

In this moment a once black and white issue became much grayer as those in the room felt the landowner’s side of the issue.

A common trend at this meeting became the talk of who is the steward of this land. It went from being maintained by the railway company to being sold to the state.

Since this time a steward for the land has not stepped forward. Landowners and trail riders have done their best to keep the trail under control but both sides have reached the hour of decision and have subsequently turned to their district legislators.

There is still one more public hearing where those can voice their opinions. Ellensburg hosts a meeting on Nov. 23. This meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Hal Holmes Center located at 209 North Ruby Street. Those not able to attend can email comments to [email protected].

There is also a planning process in place for the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. This will take the form of an advisory committee that will meet and develop a plan. This will then be presented at a public meeting. The committee takes all public comments and meets to make changes to the plan.

The timeline for this is set to begin with meetings in February 2016. A final plan will be submitted to the State Parks staff in April and in June the plan will be presented for ratification.

This decision cannot be made overnight. If the decision to keep the trail open occurs, there is still a large amount of work to be done to ensure the trail for future generations.

The voices of those in support of the group will need to be heard continuously, volunteers will be needed and the supporters and landowners will need to continue to fight for the trail to be maintained.