Momentum is building in the Twin Cities to develop a recreational trail system that would link Centralia and Chehalis.
A group calling itself Lewis County Leisure Trails met Friday with officials from both cities and Lewis County to discuss the project, which is still in its earliest stages of planning.
The group developed from a meeting held in August to brainstorm ideas for improving the communities, explained Dale Pullin, owner of Thorbecke's FitLife Centers and one of the leaders of the group.
"One idea that was raised among all the others, the one that was unanimously supported, was an inviting pathway system through the communities, one that everyone can use at no cost and that's safe," he said.
THE CITIES INDIVIDUALLY are developing their own trail projects.
In Centralia, the city's parks program has included in its proposed master plan a massive increase in the number of available trails. The city currently has just 2.1 miles of trails. That number would, over roughly the next decade, increase by more than 10 miles.
The plan calls for building asphalt trails along the Chehalis River from Fort Borst Park to the old sewage treatment plant, and along the Skookumchuck River from Fort Borst Park to Wilbur Parkins and Rotary Riverside parks.
Total cost of these projects (not including land acquisitions, permitting and engineering) is about $3.6 million, said Emil Pierson, community development director. Much of that will likely be grant-funded, according to the master plan.
MEANWHILE, CHEHALIS IS WORKING with the state Department of Transportation to develop a trail from Bishop Road to Stan Hedwall Park, to the Veterans Memorial Museum and to the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad. The city received a $42,000 grant to work on the project over four years, said Tim Grochowski, public works director.
He also said the city is meeting with the state Parks and Recreation Commission next week to discuss a possible park-and-ride location with restrooms on Hillburger Road. If developed, it would be an ideal trailhead for the section of trails now being developed in the city, he said.
With both cities working toward their own projects, the new Leisure Trails group is hoping to develop projects to link the two systems together. Options include converting the portion of the Tacoma Rail line between the cities that will be abandoned once $30 million in renovations are made to city railroad lines starting this spring. Another option is developing a trail along Airport Road.
The only thing the group is sure of now is that it wants to forge ahead.
"If we're all going down the same stream, we'll have a much greater impact for funding and for participation," said Pullin. "If we all come together, this could be a huge success and it can be completed."
The Leisure Trails group is scheduled to meet again next month.
Amanda Haines covers municipal government and health for The Chronicle. She may be reached at 807-8245, or by e-mail at ahaines@chronline.com.
