Yellow Pages
Using an excavator, Tyler McKee of Strandberg Construction picked rocks out of a dump truck and dropped them alongside the newly paved section of the Guemes Channel Trail in mid-December.
Once the larger rocks were in place to help armor the bank, smaller rocks were to go in to form shoulders. Once that’s done, all that was left to add was signage and plants to the planting pockets.
The 9-to-12-foot wide paved trail section starts at the Edwards Way cul-de-sac in the San Juan Passage subdivision and stretches east toward downtown for about a half mile. Walkers can enjoy it now — and envision what might be some day if the trail eventually links Washington Park with March Point as planned.
“We’re excited to have the first phase of the trail done,” said Gary Robinson, city parks director. “We think it’s a nice piece in itself.”
The section of trail provides a nice short walk and sets the tone for what the city wants to do with the rest of the trail, Robinson said. There’s no access from the east end of the new section yet.
The section, built on a former railroad bed closed in the mid-1960s, is open to walkers, bicyclists, leashed dogs and, with easy access from Edwards Way, it’s also ADA accessible.
“It’s an absolutely flat trail,” Robinson said.
The trail will be connected to a small park Gilbane Properties is building at its San Juan Passage development.
Gilbane paid for most of this initial phase of the trail. The city’s portion was approximately $192,000, which will largely be paid for with grant funds.
The city is continually working to secure land and easements from property owners and developers on property along Guemes Channel, Robinson said. One example is the current discussions with Gems LLC, which has proposed a restaurant and hotel at the old red cannery building at the end of D Avenue.
The next push will be to connect the trail head just completed to Ferry Terminal Road either in conjunction with the state’s terminal improvement project or if those plans continue to be delayed, some other way, Robinson said.
Read more local news in the Skagit Valley Herald and the Anacortes American, or read it online in the E-edition
