2010/05/20 - Trail plan ready for public review

Press Release #: 10-30
Date: 2010/05/20
Contact: Rich Bemm
Phone: 360.442.5400

Trail plan ready for public review

After meeting for over a year, the South Cowlitz River Trail Loop Planning Committee is ready to share preliminary results of their trail plan and receive public comments.

Two public open houses are being offered that will feature a video of the trail route as well as maps on display for review.  Members of the committee will be responding to questions and taking comments in order to develop final plans for presentation to the cities of Longview and Kelso, and to Cowlitz County:

• The first open house will be Saturday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at WorkSource, 305 S. Pacific Ave. in Kelso (same time as the Kelso Spring Fling event). 
• The second open house will be on Tuesday, June 8 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Longview Woman’s Club Building at 835 21st. Ave. in Longview.

The planned trail extends from Lexington where it would connect to the north trail loop south to Gerhart Gardens Park, and then across the river where it would connect to existing trails in Kelso and continue north until it again meets up with the north trail loop. Where feasible, the trail is planned to run along the Cowlitz River, taking advantage of the terrific views overlooking the water.  However, because some sections of the riverbank are privately owned or have insufficient shoreline, the plan shows efforts to take advantage of alternate routes that will create interesting diversity in scenery and topography.  

Additional information about the South Cowlitz River Trail Loop can be found at the Cowlitz County Health Department website at www.cowlitzonthemove.org.  This is a good source of information for those who are unable to attend the open houses.  Any comments about the plan can be sent to Rich Bemm, Longview Parks and Recreation Director, at richard.bemm@ci.longview.wa.us, or by regular mail to 2920 Douglas St., Longview, WA 98632.

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