Team works for bike trails, foot paths

MOSES LAKE - The members of the Trails Planning Team gather every month in an effort to create a more outdoor-friendly Moses Lake.

Apart from being avid bicyclers and walkers themselves, members of the trails team have worked since the late 1990s to create biking and walking paths, improve existing trails, increase the safety of pedestrians and to create a healthier community.

"Basically we want to build the system of trails and paths throughout the Moses Lake region to that people can walk and bike for recreation and commuting so that we're a healthier, nicer community," says member Joe Rogers. "That's what we're here for." 

 The Trails Planning Team, community gardens and breast feeding coalition all began as part of a five-year Healthy Communities grant, according to Sally Goodwin, who has been with the trails team since it began.

"It has included many of the citizens, the people who would benefit by using the trails," says Mike Riggs, who is a trails team member as well as the principal of Knolls Vista Elementary School in Moses Lake. "After the initial period of developing and planning the maps and so forth, went with city planning to look at new ways they could make provisions for walking and biking rather than trying to retrofitting it to existing neighborhoods." 

"The streets were not marked and the bike trails were not marked. So that was one of the first things that were done," says Goodwin.

Goodwin says the group has accomplished several goals including marking trails with signs and constructing the Larson trail near the Grant County airport.

During the Feb. 15 meeting, team members discussed their "project list." The list includes projects such as converting the rail road through town into a trail. If completed, the path would provide a path extending from the Pelican Point area, through the city and on to highway 17.

Other projects include extending the McCosh trail, widening the sidewalk on Stratford road, creating a trail from Montlake Park to connect with Lakeside Drive in Moses Lake and establish shared bike and automobile zones.

"The Larson trail is one of my favorite things we've done," says Rogers. "In part because it shows connections between the city and the county. It goes out to the college where I used to work. The biggest thing for me is getting that railroad; that's by far the biggest thing on my agenda."

"We're interested in wide sidewalks, we're interested in separate trails, however we can get people out of their cars and moving," says Rogers. "It's both for health and for transportation. It's a healthy way to get to work or go to the grocery store. We see biking and walking as modes of transportation as well as healthy endeavors." 

Riggs says schools are an integral part of the system and having more trails offers kids a chance to learn to live healthier.

"Putting schools way out of the center of town isn't a good idea," says Riggs. "Both of our new elementaries have been located within walking distance of most of their students. We'll have lots of families who will have access to and from and not need to get in the car and drive."

Riggs says he thinks there are "far too many cars delivering kids to school" but many parents have expressed concern about students safety when walking to school.

"Parents are very vigilant about trying to keep their kids safe but there has to be a balance somewhere that kids are allowed to walk and play and get to know their own neighborhoods in a safe manner," says Riggs. 

Riggs said when he joined the trails team he was excited to see the cooperation between the various agencies and volunteers.

"We want to see a healthy community and know that sound transportation methods are all part of a healthy community," says Riggs. "To make our community as healthy as possible we have to have a broad base of participation." 

Trails Planning Team members include Aron McPherson, Bandina Holmquist, Carolann Swartz, Charlene Rios, Cory Clasen, Dan Leavitt, Dennis Parr, Gale Haley, Gale Ham, Gary Harer, Jason McCreary, Jerod Bradford, Joe Rogers, Judy Oakes, Julie Kim-Knapp, Lori Moholt-Phillips, Louis Logan, Michael Van Slyke, Mike Riggs, Richard Teals, Brenda Teals, Roland Gonzales, Sally Goodwin, Theresa Fuller, Thomas Carr and Tracy Vorwerk.

All committee meetings are open to the public and held the third Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. in City Hall conference room.

To visit the Trails Planning Team Web site go to the Moses Lake city web page at www.ci.moses-lake.wa.us and click on the Health Communities tab.