April 2013 Portland metropolitan area Regional trail accomplishments 2006 and beyond | On the road to 1,200 miles of trail wo decades ago, the Metropolitan T Greenspaces Master Plan outlined a vision for 1,200 miles of regional trails and greenways – a connected network that makes it easier to explore, relax, exercise and commute. Approved by the Metro Council in 1992, the plan brought together two dozen cities, three counties, two park districts, state and federal agencies and many nonprofit organizations, such as the 40-Mile Loop Land Trust and the Audubon Society of Portland. Everyday citizens, too, helped envision the next generation of natural areas, parks and trails. As trails advocates celebrate the 20th anniversary of “To develop a sense of community, you the Greenspaces Master Plan, there is much to be have to feel connected proud of. Some 300 miles of regional trails have been – and connectivity built, spanning the region’s communities and natural is what these trails features. That work has accelerated since 2006, when are about. The value voters passed a second natural areas bond measure that really goes beyond makes it possible to fill in trail gaps. Local advocates have the very important become more vocal and strategic during the past seven transportation, health years, helping increase federal funding for trail design and recreation aspects. and construction. Most local jurisdictions are planning, It gets down to the designing, building and maintaining trails in their fundamental principles communities. And, as the Intertwine Alliance blossoms, it of what we are about is reaching out to thousands of new trail and park users. and who we are about as a region.” These efforts make a difference for millions of people who use the region’s trails every year; Springwater on the Tom Hughes Willamette alone attracts more than 1 million walkers, Metro Council President runners and cyclists. While the region still has many miles to go to meet its goal, we are at a crossroads. With continued collaboration, more success stories will unfold www.oregonmetro.gov/trails during the next decade. Region makes tracks closing trail gaps efore walkers, runners and cyclists can These projects represent many of the region’s B explore new trails, somebody has to trails accomplishments since 2006, but they secure rights to build them – a process that are not comprehensive. is often long and complicated. Metro has A complete tally would require a book – or resources to do just that, thanks to a voter- many days exploring by bike or foot. approved 2006 natural areas bond measure. The Sellwood Gap is shrinking! Ever grumble about the Springwater Corridor’s missing link? You’re in luck. Learn how Metro’s voter-approved Natural Areas Program is filling the one- mile gap. Since the bond measure passed, the region has bought land or negotiated easements on more than two dozen properties in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, most of them along the 40-Mile Loop. Someday soon, these lines on a map will be places to get outside, get some exercise and get around. 2 1 Cazadero Trail and Trailhead 4 Gresham-Fairview Trail For project Next to Barton Park, a trailhead will welcome The popular new Gresham-Fairview Trail locations visitors to a four-mile section of the Cazadero is one step closer to connecting with the See map on pages 6-7 Trail. Metro acquired 25 acres for this portal Interstate 84, Columbia Slough and Marine along the new trail, which extends the Drive trails, thanks to an acquisition made Springwater Corridor from Boring to Barton with funds from Metro’s 2006 bond – and, eventually, up the Clackamas River measure. through the Eagle Creek, Estacada, Faraday, 5 Marine Drive Trail Cazadero and Promontory Park areas. The While walkers, runners and cyclists are busy forested trail, which is owned by the Oregon exploring the Marine Drive Trail, Metro is Parks and Recreation Department, traces paving the way for an expansion of the a historic rail line used to ship timber from popular pathway in three key locations: in Cascade forests to the Portland riverfront. Northeast Portland, near Interstate 205 and 2 Columbia Slough near the Portland-Gresham border. Closing Who’s on Pathways will someday trace this entire 19- gaps will eliminate interruptions in the trip the trail? Region makes tracks closing trail gaps mile remnant of lakes, wetlands and slow- along Marine Drive and the Columbia River. According to regional moving channels in the Columbia River’s Eventually, the Marine Drive Trail will stretch trail counts, women southern floodplain. Future visitors will 20 miles from the St. Johns neighborhood account for 54 percent discover diverse plants and wildlife such as in North Portland eastward through of pedestrians and 30 deer, beaver, river otter and 175 bird species. Gresham and Troutdale, offering spectacular percent of cyclists on the Metro has secured the rights to build nearly views of water, wildlife and mountain peaks region’s trails. three-quarters mile of trail between North and serving as part of the 40-Mile Loop. Denver Avenue and Martin Luther King 6 Springwater Corridor, Southeast Jr. Boulevard and another mile along the Portland Peninsula Canal, which creates a north-south Runners, walkers and cyclists needn’t link between the Slough and Marine Drive. scrutinize trail plans to name the region’s 3 Fanno Creek Trail, Tigard most notorious missing piece – the Metro accomplished its first trails success Sellwood Gap, which forces people off story of the region’s 2006 natural areas the Springwater Corridor for a mile in its bond measure by securing rights to extend namesake neighborhood in Southeast the Fanno Creek Trail in central Tigard. Two Portland. That gap will shrink dramatically, side-by-side easements will allow more thanks to an agreement reached in 2010 than half of a one-third mile gap to be filled by Metro and the Oregon Pacific Railroad between downtown Tigard and the city’s Co. The new agreement allows the City Woodard Park. Metro also worked with of Portland to build more than half a mile Tigard to acquire the Fields property, which of trail, taking commuters and outdoor will be a wayside along the trail. About half enthusiasts from Southeast Umatilla Street complete, the trail will traverse 15 miles and to Southeast 13th Avenue. An improved five cities, connecting to the Red Electric Trail on-street bike path will connect to the in Southwest Portland and weaving through “Three Bridges” area and eastward. The Beaverton, Tigard and Durham to Tualatin, Springwater stretches 20 miles from central where Fanno Creek joins the Tualatin River. Portland through Southeast Portland, Metro’s 1995 bond measure protected Milwaukie, Gresham and unincoroporated about 40 acres for this commuting and Clackamas County, all the way to Boring. recreational trail, which connects dozens of 7 Tualatin River Greenway Trail neighborhoods, parks, schools Several new Metro natural areas will and businesses. contribute to the northern extension of Tualatin’s premier regional trail and greenway, which will one day stretch 20 miles from the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge to the Willamette River in West Linn. 3 Design and construction generate on-the-ground excitement rail lovers typically fixate on one 12 Pier-Chimney Bridge, 2013 T important question: “When can I use Chimney Park is cut off from neighboring Pier it?” That’s why, in the decades-long process Park by a narrow gully and a main line railroad of creating a trail, construction is often the – but not for long. Construction is expected Trails attract most exciting step. During the past seven summer 2013 for a 120-foot bicycle and a crowd years, dozens of trails across the region have pedestrian bridge, connecting the two parks made significant on-the-ground progress – and adding to the North Portland Greenway. Trail counts estimate how or, in some cases, opened to the public with This also fills a key gap in the 40-Mile Loop many trips people take community celebrations. People are walking, and connects North Portland to Metro’s Smith each year on the region’s running and riding their bikes on many miles and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area. trails. Here’s a sampling of of trail that didn’t exist several years ago. the results. 13 Chelatchie Prairie Rail with Trail Pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians in Tom McCall 8 Beaverton Crescent Connection, 2013-2014 Waterfront Park: Funding has been secured for design and Clark County can explore the first mile of 3.5 million Right of way acquisition for this bicycle, the Chelatchie Prairie Rail with Trail, which eventually will stretch 33 miles along the Eastbank Esplanade: pedestrian and transit project, which will build 2.1 million the Beaverton Creek Trail, improve visitors’ route of the county-owned Chelatchie Prairie connection to the Fanno Creek Trail, create Railroad. South Waterfront Trail: bike boulevards and increase access to transit, 14 Columbia Slough Trail, 2012-2013 1.3 million providing an active transportation corridor A new mile-long extension will be built from Springwater on for the city. North Denver Avenue, where the paved the Willamette: 9 Blue Lake Regional Park trail on the bike trail currently ends, to North Vancouver 1.2 million 40-Mile Loop, 2013 Avenue. A trail eventually will trace this entire Columbia More than half a mile of trail will be added 19-mile remnant of lakes, wetlands and Renaissance Trail: within Blue Lake Regional Park, at the junction slow-moving channels in the Columbia River’s 700,000 of the Gresham-Fairview Trail and the Marine southern floodplain. Salmon Creek Greenway: Drive Trail. The new addition will travel 15 Cooper Mountain Nature Park trails 410,000 through a lovely part of this popular park, When Cooper Mountain Nature Park opened Fanno Creek adjacent to the levee, to connect existing in 2007, visitors gained 3.5 miles of trails to Greenway: trail sections.