The Doc Tait Pavilion: A New Chapter at the Foothills Trailhead in Buckley

A Gathering Place. A Gateway. A Tribute.

We’re in the final stretch: Construction of the Doc Tait Pavilion has begun! This beautiful new gathering space and trailhead gateway on the Foothills Trail in Buckley will be far more than just a pavilion. It will be the first physical home of the Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition—a welcoming hub where trail users can gather, get oriented, and learn the story of this trail and the community that built it.

The pavilion honors Dr. Douglas “Doc” Tait, the Buckley physician who first imagined the Foothills Trail. But it also serves a larger purpose: expanding access, improving safety with maps and interpretive elements, and telling the story of this place—right at the Foothills Trail’s birthplace.

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We’re So Close—Help Us Finish Strong

We’ve come this far thanks to generous donors, years of planning, and a strong partnership with the City of Buckley. But recent shifts in funding priorities have left us with a final gap to close. We need your help to finish what we started.

Make your gift today and leave a lasting legacy. Every dollar makes a difference!

Gifts of $500 or more by June 23 will be recognized on our Donor Wall with a custom engraved leaf. Your name—or that of someone you wish to honor—will become part of the Foothills Trail story.

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What the Pavilion Will Do

  • Provide a safe and beautiful gathering space

    for families, school groups, walkers, and trail users.

  • Honor Dr. Douglas Tait,

    the Buckley physician whose vision helped spark the Foothills Trail—and the many early founders and trail champions who made it a reality.

  • Tell the story of this land,

    from the Indigenous peoples to the timber era to the grassroots movement that built the trail.

  • Highlight native flora and fauna,

    connecting visitors to the ecology of the region and encouraging stewardship.

  • Fuel local economic activity

    by drawing visitors into Buckley’s downtown core.

  • Support health and well-being

    by making trail access easier, safer, and more inclusive.

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🎉 Join Us for the Grand Opening Celebration!🎉