The city of Kent is working on a plan to connect the Green River and Interurban Trails at the north end of the city near South 196th Street, creating a loop trail experience and making the town a regional biking and recreation destination.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
City planning has started for the proposed Kent Valley Loop Trail, a paved, 12-mile, multi-use loop capitalizing on the intersection of the Green River and Interurban trails at Foster Park at the city\u2019s southern end.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
According to Kent Parks\u2019 project manager Brian Levenhagen, the city has a rare opportunity to create an outstanding attraction.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cRegional trails don\u2019t often intersect, and if they do, they\u2019re usually not situated to create a loop experience,” said Levenhagen in a city media release. “But these trails are close together, and they\u2019re in such close proximity to downtown and other area attractions. We have a great opportunity to close the loop, so to speak, and create a feature that\u2019s rare on this side of the state.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Levenhagen referred to the Apple Capital Loop Trail in the Wenatchee Valley as an example of what\u2019s possible in Kent.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWenatchee\u2019s loop runs along the shore of the Columbia River leading through parks and natural areas, as well as through industrial and agricultural areas,” he said. “It\u2019s immensely popular for biking, walking, running and skating. It\u2019s a treasured community asset and I\u2019m excited about the possibility we have to create something similar here.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Trail features<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cNot only would the loop trail feature fantastic views of Mount Rainier and the Green River, it would better connect the Green River and Interurban trails to neighborhoods, parks and downtown.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s so great is that much of the loop is already in place; by creating a north connection, we could make better use of it,\u201d Levenhagen said. \u201cOur challenge is to identify the best option to close the loop at the north end of the city, in the vicinity of South 196th Street.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Levenhagen acknowledges some cyclists already connect at the north-end using city streets.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe know it\u2019s possible to ride a loop now, and some cyclists do; but, with the right improvements we believe the loop can be more attractive to a much wider range of users,” he said. \u201cIn order to make that happen, we need to have a plan in place. A loop trail master plan will be very helpful in attracting state and federal grant money and even private partners.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Funding the trail<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The city has not allocated funding for the construction of the loop trail improvements. The proposed loop was one of the recommendations of the \u201cLet\u2019s Go Kent\u201d walking and biking study paid for by a $120,000 grant from the King County Department of Health.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Levenhagen said it\u2019s difficult to make formal requests for funding without a proposal in hand.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cPotential funders want to see the big picture,” he said. “So having the dollars in place isn\u2019t always a necessary first step. Before the loop trail can become a reality, we have to anticipate and address the needs and wants of the current trail and potential loop trail users.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Public ideas wanted<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe really want to hear what would make the loop trail experience ideal for them,” Levenhagen said about public input. “Is it signage, improved visibility, the number of restrooms, water fountains, trash cans or something else?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n To help ensure the master plan incorporates those components, the city selected Berger Partnership, a Seattle-based landscape architecture and urban design firm, to assist with the planning and public outreach necessary to create a high\u2013quality loop trail experience.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n