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KITTITAS COUNTY <br /> DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br /> PUBLIC WORKS—BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br /> STUDY SESSION DATE: October 28,2024 <br /> TOPIC: Palouse to Cascades Trail Reconnection Proposal <br /> ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff <br /> LEAD STAFF: <br /> Joshua Fredrickson <br /> RECOMMENDATION: <br /> Provide direction to staff on support of grant application. <br /> BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br /> • The City of Ellensburg (City) is working to apply for the Environmental Protection <br /> Agency (EPA) Community Change Grant <br /> • Grant funding would go towards completion of the Palouse to Cascades Trail <br /> Reconnection Route <br /> • Reconnection Route includes County property at Bowers Field and County road <br /> right-of-way <br /> • Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) approval and County project cost amounts <br /> are undefined at this time. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> There is interest from the City of Ellensburg in completing the Palouse to Cascades Trail <br /> Reconnection Route. This will address the gap in the trail between the current end points <br /> on Sanders Road and a point near Reecer Creek Road. A Notice of Funding Opportunity <br /> was issued by the EPA's Community Change Grant fund. This grant funding source could <br /> help to complete the section of trail. Grant applications are due November 21. <br /> DISCUSSION: <br /> The Palouse to Cascades Trail (formerly the John Wayne Pioneer Trail/Iron Horse State <br /> Park) stretches more than 285 miles across Washington. The trail route follows the <br /> historic route of the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad. The project being <br /> proposed reconnects the trail in the City of Ellensburg. The proposed project includes a <br /> trail section on County owned land, County right-of-way as well as private property. The <br /> County property is at Bowers Field. Bowers Road right-of-way is also included as part of <br /> the proposed route. <br />