John Wayne Pioneer Trail Reconnection Route

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Executive Summary Washington State's Cross State trail is passable now from near North Bend to the west side of Ellensburg, providing 76 miles of non -motorized corridor. From the east side of Ellensburg, the trail extends another 32 miles to the Columbia River, and and will eventually connect to the Idaho border. Ellensburg's urban trail system will link these trails together. This report pre- sents a plan to create an exceptional urban greenway for the City. The resulting connected trail ties over iio miles of continuous recreational trail together. Central Washington University is supportive of a direct link for bicycles and pedestrians through campus, but horses and wagons would go north from the existing trail to loop around the campus and urban area and reconnect on both sides of the City. The project's goal is to develop a realistic route around the campus to bypass primarily for horses and wagons, but also to develop plans for an urban greenbelt for Ellensburg. In the past year, the Ellensburg Parks and Recreation Department has held 16 meetings to develop a feasible route and strategy to get it approved and funded. These meetings have included a diverse Stakeholder's Steering Committee, several Public Agencies, the Citizens, the City Council, and private landowners along the potential routes. In this process a plan that could create an Ellensburg Greenbelt has emerged. Various jurisdictions are involved, with the City of Ellensburg Parks and Recreation Depart- ment as the lead agency. Kittitas County is a major player with the Fairgrounds, Airport property and County ROW's potentially involved for the corridor. Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is a significant landowner and manager for the rural route, and Central Washington University is critical to the success of the project since they are di- rectly between the two ends of the trail. Several private landowners are involved with whom we have had discussions. The plan that is presented in this report could create an Ellensburg Greenbelt (some have suggested the"Blue Agate Greenbelt") looping around the City. The result is a plan which creates a six- mile loop around northern Ellensburg. The trail would create an urban greenway that would be linked to the farmlands, canyons, mountains and forests of Kittitas County, and to the Columbia Basin and Puget Sound urban areas. The long term benefits of this trail include higher property values, better recreation and transportation systems, enhanced fitness opportunities close to residents, as well as an excellent feature to improve the quality of fife in the Ellensburg community. This study recommends adoption of this plan by the City Council this year to allow for several grant applications beginning in zoo2. 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 fotlowi ng 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 John WL(syne Pioneer Trail Reconnection Study Final Report September 2001 3