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President’s Message: March 2025

By Dan Bucci, President, Foothills Coalition

Hello Members! I hope you have been having a fantastic winter season and are looking forward to the return of spring (I know I am) and more time outdoors and on the trail. As always, we have a lot going on at the FTC, but I’ll leave those updates for other sections in the newsletter this time around. For this edition, I want to use my space to cover some broader recent issues surrounding public lands that impact us all.

As I write this, less than a week ago the Trump Administration announced large cuts to the federal workforce. Among these cuts were thousands, if not tens of thousands of jobs that impact public lands and outdoor recreation. These two things are not only popular but are part of the fabric and identity of our western states including Washington. The National Forest Service alone lost close to 3,500 employees and has already closed trailheads and recreational spaces in Washington citing staffing issues. The National Park Service will certainly struggle with the upcoming visitation season as well as they also are impacted by the cuts. The positions cut include park rangers, maintenance staff, wildland firefighters, and more. These agencies were already spread thin trying to complete the herculean task of keeping public lands safe, maintained, and pristine and these cuts will only make things harder.

Federal funds and grants are also a significant part of funding that goes to the states and local governments to fund local parks and trails, it is yet to be seen how these will be impacted, but given what we have seen done in the last few weeks I’d expect some of these funds could be frozen or cut. The issues are not only at the federal level. Washington State is facing a large budget gap which needs to be dealt with this legislative session. Agencies with ties to public lands such as Washington State Parks are also seeing potential budget cuts. So, what’s the point? Well, we seem to be entering a period where public lands are at risk, which will have negative ramifications not only on existing parks and trails, but the ability to complete projects for new ones.

I don’t need to espouse to you all the benefits of trails, but I think it bears reiterating that trails, such as the Foothills Trails are essential for a happy and healthy population. Parks and trails provide safe, maintained spaces for people to recreate in all different ways. They connect communities, they serve as economic engines and tourism destinations, and as a whole they lead to healthier and happier communities. They also enjoy broad and more importantly bi-partisan public support. I just read a recent poll conducted in eight western states that showed overwhelming support against budget and staffing cuts to the National Parks and National Forests. This support was independent of political beliefs as both red and blue states ranged from 68-80% of those polled being against reductions in support for public lands. Something that enjoys such broad support from the public (as few items do these days) should not be something for which we reduce funding. This seems antithetical to a government that is supposed to reflect the will and desires of its voters.

Closer to home, we can expect to see the impact of these cuts firsthand in one of the true gems of the world right in our backyard, Mount Rainier National Park. The Mountain and its surrounding land has been protected for over 100 years as a National Park. Over the last few years, the park has attracted around 1.8 million visitors each year. That’s close to the equivalent of every citizen of Pierce County visiting the park twice a year. The park is an international travel destination and supports countless local and small businesses in communities all over Pierce County, especially the smaller communities which lie along SR 7, SR 162/165 or SR 410. Any funding or staffing cuts that impact Mount Rainier should be of immediate concern to citizens in Pierce County.

Lastly, you might ask how this impacts the Foothills Trail and why I’ve taken this space to editorialize a bit more than normal? The bottom line is that the Foothills Trail does not exist in a vacuum. Despite it being a county park, the FTC would not exist without federal and state funding and grants. The FTC would not exist if it was not linking communities and destinations. The future of the FTC relies on a healthy, well-staffed and functioning NFS and NPS as they are critical partners in completing a trail through Carbon Canyon, and our vision of a trail that connects Mount Rainier National Park to the Tacoma waterfront. The FTC itself has been the beneficiary of state and federal funds to progress trail studies and projects.

It is important at this time to make sure we are doing all we can to make our voices heard and make sure public lands don’t get left behind in budgetary and political battles. We need to be engaged with our local and state officials, and make sure our federal representatives hear us loud and clear that staffing cuts to public lands are not acceptable. We need to participate in local, state and national elections and support those who share that view. And now, more than ever, we need to continue to offer support to the plethora of trail nonprofits that are fighting the good fight to protect and expand public lands, and equitable outdoor access to ensure we have happy and healthy communities. As I’ve said before, and will say again here, we are truly blessed to live in such a beautiful place as Washington State and have access to so many amazing outdoor spaces. Let’s make our voices heard to ensure that is a reality that exists for generations to come.

Board Member Spotlight: Kim Wells

By Ashton Brown, Contributor, Trail Line News

The Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition is fortunate to have both passionate and dedicated members like Kim Wells who just reached her two-year mark as a member of the board. Ms. Wells’ journey to join the Foothills Coalition Board was a serendipitous one. She had run the Rainier to Ruston Relay (R2R) multiple times without being aware that it is one of the Coalition’s largest annual fundraisers. When she saw a call for board members posted on social media, she jumped at the opportunity.

“I’ve always been interested in giving back, especially to causes and organizations that have personally affected me and thought this was a tangible way to help take care of something that’s helped me take care of myself,” she said.

As a Puyallup resident of 14 years, she uses the trail multiple times a week – twice with her running group in addition to the occasional dog walk outing and bike ride. Running has been a big part of Ms. Wells’ life for the past 20 years – since she was inspired by a coworker who ran a marathon in celebration of the first anniversary of completing chemotherapy.

“I went from zero to marathon,” Ms. Wells said. “I was really inspired by her and dove into a training program and my first real race was a marathon for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.”

Since that first marathon, Ms. Wells has continued to challenge herself on trails across the nation, achieving her goal of running a half marathon in all 50 states, which she reached between 2014 and 2019. Forty-eight of the races were completed alongside a friend who embarked on the challenge with her.

“Whether I’m training or just running with my regular group, getting out on the trail far surpasses the running experience of being on a sidewalk or roadside,” she said. “You really get to enjoy the range of flora and fauna our region has to offer, and on clear days you even get a view of Mt. Rainier.”

Growing up in southwest Washington and spending most of her life along the west coast, Ms. Wells feels most at home in nature and has trekked all across the world to enjoy the outdoors, all while keeping the blood pumping. Some of her most memorable treks have been along the Camino de Santiago in Spain and to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Next on her list is Mt. Blanc, an eight-day trek that will take her through France, Switzerland, and Italy.

Her vision for the Coalition is to see the trail completed from the mountain to the sound, ensuring it remains well-maintained, accessible, and protected for future generations. She also emphasizes the importance of building partnerships and advocating for all trails.

“While we on the board advocate for trails and push our mission forward, there are many ways for our community to support the Coalition in a way that’s meaningful to them,” she said. “I encourage our friends and neighbors to get involved in supporting what we do through any of the opportunities we offer whether it’s becoming a member or volunteering at one of our work parties. Every effort helps preserve and improve the trails we all love.”

We’re grateful to have Kim on the board, bringing her passion for trails, community, and outdoor adventure to the Coalition!

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Spiketon Ditch Bridge Update

Spiketon Ditch Bridge Closure Update

By Travis Curry, Regional Trails Planner, Pierce County Parks

The Spiketon Ditch Bridge on the Foothills Trail was demolished in June 2024 due to extensive structural failure. Pierce County Parks will construct a new permanent bridge over Spiketon Ditch. Pierce County Parks has selected a contractor and final permitting is underway. Construction is anticipated to start in Spring 2025. The bridge is expected to open by the end of Summer 2025. To receive updates about this project and other Foothills Trail alerts, please sign up to receive email updates at www.piercecountywa.gov/FoothillsAlerts.

Current Status:

On May 28, 2024, the Pierce County Executive issued an Emergency Proclamation allowing expedited demolition of the bridge to protect public safety. Replacement options are not simple, fast, or cheap. Extensive engineering and permitting are required to construct the new bridge over a waterway. Pierce County Parks is working across County Departments and permitting agencies to determine the most expedient way to replace the bridge. Pierce County Parks is also looking at all planned trail closure projects to determine whether closures can be aligned to reduce trail impacts in the coming years.

Communications:

The 0.75-mile trail section remains closed from the Lower Burnett Bridge (1 mile east of South Prairie) to 268th Avenue Court East (4 miles west of Buckley). Do not enter the closure area. There are no bicycle or pedestrian detours available through the area. Trail users will have to turn back the way they came.

During the closure, the remainder of the Foothills Trail is open. The following are approximate trail mileages on either side of the closure:

  • East Puyallup Trailhead to closure: 17 miles
  • McMillin to closure: 12 miles
  • Orting to closure: 9 miles
  • South Prairie to closure: 1 mile
  • Buckley to closure: 4 miles

Please visit the project website for regular updates. Updates will also be provided through the email listserv, social media posts, trail signage, and messaging for partner organizations.

Background:

The original Spiketon Ditch Bridge was constructed in 2009. It was designed as a wooden bridge to reflect the historic character of the railroad corridor, consistent with the adopted trail design guidelines in the Foothills Trail Master Plan. In 2016, a similar bridge approximately 0.3 mile east was demolished by treefall and replaced with a steel plate arch structure. Every two years, Pierce County’s Bridge Engineering Team inspects all bridges in the park system. In 2023, the team identified progressive bridge damage and recommended further analysis. A bridge assessment was ordered, which showed potential failure, and the bridge was closed in late November 2023.

An assessment by the bridge manufacturer found that the original bridge stressed under its own weight, and additional load increased the chance of collapse.

For project updates and information on other projects throughout the Pierce County Parks network, visit the Projects & Plans website at www.piercecountywa.gov/5340/Projects-Plans.