Locals gather for discussion of John Wayne Trail

Residents of Adams County gathered in Lind at Slim’s Bar and Grill on Monday, March 13, to voice their opinions about the conservation of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail.

The attendees received updates on the discussions of the trail at the legislative level from Tekoa City Councilmember and President of the Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association Ted Blaszak.

The John Wayne Trail stretches across 285 miles of the state beginning at the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains and continuing to the Idaho border. Blaszak said the trail is commonly used for hiking, biking and sightseeing.

For visitors of the state, the trail allows travelers to experiences the various ecosystems starting in rich forestlands, continuing through the dramatic scablands and ending in the pastoral Palouse, he explained.

The western portion of the trail between North Bend and the Columbia River attracts an estimated 200,000 people a year, said Blaszak. Despite being heavily traveled, the trail benefits small towns by providing tourist revenue, but there are many areas of the trail in need of repair, he explained.

The Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association established after the Tekoa trail closed, said Blaszak. They had two cyclists ride on the trail to document the necessary repairs and maintenance improvements needed, he explained.

In order to raise awareness, they began promoting the conservation of the trail in local newspapers and sent letters to legislators. Blaszak said their efforts proved to be successful as they received a response from Senator Mark Schoesler stating he would assist in raising funds to repair the Tekoa Trestle.

After learning the legislators planned to close a section of the trail to repair the Tekoa Trestle, Blaszak said Tekoa City Council passed a resolution asking legislators to repair the John Wayne Trail.

Their voices continued to be heard across the state as 46 cities, including Lind and Ritzville, and one county passed formal resolutions urging legislators to repair and conserve the trail.

The crossing at the Colombia River, the Renslow Trestle East of Kittitas County and the Tekoa Trestle are the three areas of the trail in need of repair and currently require travelers to take a detour route, said Blaszak.

Blaszak said the Washington State Parks Commission set up a Classification and Management Planning process, which included numerous meetings between adjacent landowners opposed to the trail and trail users. They also held multiple well-attended public meetings around the state to raise awareness, he explained.

The legislation decided to close the trail in 2015 and granted control of the land to adjacent landowners, but a typo in the proviso kept the trail open, Blaszak explained. He said legislators plan to make the final decision during the next executive session.

Currently there are $4 million in repairs in the Washington Wildlife and Recreation grant program and $2 million in capital budget requests, said Blaszak.

The Tekoa Trail Trestle Association raised $83,000 for repairs of the Tekoa Trestle, he explained. He stated the legislators will make a decision regarding the allocations in the upcoming few months.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has created a Washington Parks Trail Management Plan, which includes the repair work needed for the trail and how the commission will continue repairing it over the course of the next 20 years.

If the funding is denied, Blaszak said the money will most likely be given to the West side of the state to complete projects.

The Tekoa Trail Trestle Association has been working tirelessly to gain additional support by traveling to Olympia and meeting with 90 legislators from both parties to discuss the details of Washington’s only cross-state trail, Blaszak said.

The association began efforts to conserve the trail by working with farmers who own land between the border of Washington and Idaho.

By entering in Good Neighbor contracts with farmers and applying for monies to obtain easements in the area, Blaszak said the easements would allow people to bike from Central Montana to Seattle on the longest trail in America.

Blaszak stated the repair funds will lead to an increase in tourist revenue for small towns on the trail and the preservation of Washington’s history and culture.

In order to receive the funding, Blaszak asked participants to contact state legislators, ask adjacent landowners to write letters, and spread awareness about the importance of conserving the John Wayne Trail.

For more information on the John Wayne Trail and to sign the petition to conserve it visit http://savethejohnwaynetrail.com/.

To speak to a member of the Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association about their continuing efforts, email [email protected].