12/29/2011
Initial segment of Chelatchie Prairie Rail with Trail open for public use
Vancouver, WA – The first section of the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad trail project is open to walkers, runners, cyclists, equestrians and other outdoor recreationalists.
The one-mile paved trail segment runs from the east entrance road inside Battle Ground Lake State Park southwest along the Clark County Chelatchie Prairie Railroad.
NW Construction General Contracting Inc. of Battle Ground recently wrapped up work on the $480,000 contract, completing the 10-foot-wide multi-use trail, an equestrian shoulder and associated amenities.
“This trail is for the entire community to enjoy,” said Troy Pierce, project manager with Clark County Public Works. “Please be safe and considerate of neighbors by staying off the tracks and on the trail.”
Federal and state monies provided much of the design and construction financing, including money from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office’s Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.
Clark County originally planned to build a 2.8-mile trail section connecting Battle Ground Lake State Park with Fairgrounds Park in downtown Battle Ground. However, wetlands, steep slopes and sensitive wildlife habitat made the proposed project more expensive than originally estimated, so it was scaled back to within the original budget.
County officials will continue to apply for grants, pursue partnerships and explore ways to build future sections of the entire 33-mile trail paralleling the county-owned railroad.
The county approved the Chelatchie Prairie Rail with Trail Corridor Study in 2008 after extensive public input.
For more information, visit the Chelatchie Rail with Trail’s project website: www.clark.wa.gov/publicworks/chelatchie/index.html.
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