So, What's With the Trail?

The Saturday after the grand opening of part of the Fennel Creek Trail, I took the pups for a walk on it. It was locked up.

There's a parking lot for 18-20 cars. The gate that gives access was shut and padlocked. Worse, parking in the Cul-de-Sac is very limited. The driveways are often so close together that you can't park a car between them.

Asking around, I learned that the Park Board has a public hearing on the 18th. (Justice Center, 6 PM.) "To accept testimony regarding the ...parking area."

The trail was opened less then a week and now access is locked pending, well "something."

The background seems to be that the parking area wasn't part of the original plan. Well, as the plan is from 2007, you'd expect some change. My understanding is the area was first a place to store equipment to build the trail. Then, when there was a surplus of paving, so it was used to create parking. Money was saved and parking enhanced.

Having watched stuff like this happen, here how the public hearing will go: All the "not in my backyard" (NIMBY) people that didn't want the trail, will speak. People that don't want outsiders using the trail will speak about safety etc. No doubt a least one person will complain about how crowded the parking has become. As the parking lot is closed and people want to use the trail, of course they will have to park in the neighborhood.

This will be a knee jerk reaction. Years of planning, hearings, permits, approvals, then the grand opening and NOW something is wrong?

Sadly, those that want to come and use the trail will be under represented. It's much easier to get to a meeting when you want something stopped.

Perhaps the park board should explain how they brought this on? They are citizens that care for the parks and should have been deeply involved with the trail. How does 6 years of planning result in this?

You want access to the trail? Then you better either email the park board:
ParkBoard@ci.bonney-lake.wa.us
and/or attend the meeting on the 18th. If you don't speak up then the NIMBY group will have their say.