John Wayne Pioneer Trail Reconnection Route

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This study finds that a trail and greenbelt surrounding the growing urban area north of the City of Ellensburg should be adopted as Public Policy to create a community asset that will increase land value and the quality of life in Kittitas County. The most important steps that should be taken are to adopt the plan and acquire rights to the corridor. Development can come later as resources are available. The trail project will require lobbying, grant -writing, persistence, committment, volunteer work parties, in-kind donations from local businesses, travel to present Grant applications, in short: ALot of Hard Work. It is very important that supporters of the trail organize a supportgroup composed of Citizens and Business representatives that can steward this project through its many stages from this point on. This takes more than City staff (who are already very busy) ... it really takes some very committed volunteers to augment the public agency's support of the project. Many successful grant applications involve partnerships with strong volunteer citizen groups. In the past year, The Ellensburg Parks and Recreation Department has held 16 meetings and assessed several optional methods to develop a reconnection of the Cross State Trail through Ellensburg. These meetings have included the John Wayne Trail Reconnection Steering Com- mittee, Public Agencies, the Citizens, the Parks & Recreation Commission, the City Council, and private landowners along the potential routes. In this process a plan that could create an Ellensburg Greenbelt has emerged. The preferred route is consistent with plans that were concieved years ago; many of the issues have been worked out in greater detail, and we recommend the following steps be taken: i. adoption of the concept 2. acquistion of the corridor and 3. opertional discussions and agreements to be made with agencies and landowners 4. apply for grants for construction The Northern Bypass route is much more than a route for horses and wagons a few times a year. It could be a wonderful separated greenway system (like the Yakima Greenway, Spokane's Centennial Trail, or the Wenatchee River Trail System) that are both recreational and trans- portation systems, and land use buffers that increase property values and enhance quality of life for families and businesses in Ellensburg. .3'obn IW2 yvne Pioneer Bail Reconnection Study Final Report September 2001 65