For more than 20 years, John Selby has been a permanent fixture for the Foothills Trail Coalition. Recruited by founding member Ernie Bay, Mr. Selby was talked into joining early in his retirement. As a lifelong lover of the outdoors and trails, the commitment was one that was easy to say yes to.
“My first job was on a trail crew in Olympic National Park,” Mr. Selby said. “I started the job the summer after high school graduation and continued it for three years while I was in college. I just loved being out there. And I still love it all these years later.”
Mr. Selby has deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, having grown up in Port Angeles before attending University of Washington. Upon graduation as a mechanical engineer, he joined the Peace Corps to avoid the Vietnam War and relocated to Tunis, Tunisia with his wife Dottie along his side for a two-year stint managing the diesel electric production for the country.
Upon the conclusion of his Peace Corps commitment, the Selbys returned to the Seattle area where John had hopes of working for Boeing, but the company was in a slump, making furthering his education an appealing opportunity. While Mrs. Selby worked at Seattle Metro, Mr. Selby worked toward his Master’s Degree in mechanical engineering which ultimately led to a career at Weyerhaeuser Research and Development which would last 30 years, in the first five of which he worked in Washington, Oregon, and Oklahoma.
During this time, he and Dottie settled down in Edgewood where he quickly became an avid user of the Foothills Trail and began a 50-year love affair with running – one he ended on his 80th birthday on December 21, 2022.
Together, the Selbys volunteered for the Mt. Rainier Meadow Rovers program – an important organization within the National Park that involves interacting with park visitors and providing educational information about the park, its trails, wildlife, ecosystem, and more. The Selbys enjoyed this opportunity for more than 15 years – until Dottie’s passing in 2011.
Since then, Mr. Selby has remained active with the Foothills Trail Coalition and stuck close to the area, seeing the organization undergo a positive transformation and reach decades-long goals. His involvement has not been limited to the role of board member, he also served as the editor of the Trail Line News for eight years and he continues to be a regular contributor to the publication.
For decades, the Foothills Trail Coalition was a source of community, with many in-person events and monthly meetings lost to COVID and the now-gone Courtesy Patrol.
The Courtesy Patrol used to meet once a month and interact with trail users. Typically a guest speaker was invited to join them with an interest in trails, the outdoors, or similar organizations, which would garner community interest and provide education.
With the disbursement of some highlights of the organization have come the rise of others.
“I think one of the greatest changes has been hiring an excellent executive director,” he said. “We’ve had amazing presidents and board members over the years, but there are challenges with our organization being volunteer-led. Bringing in Shayla was a game changer and I’m looking forward to seeing Breanna carry on a lot of those changes and contribute new ones of her own.”
John, alongside the entire Coalition, recently celebrated the official completion and opening of the Foothills Bridge over the White River which now connects Pierce County to King County.
“It’s amazing to finally see this project completed and I think it’s one of the Coalition’s greatest achievements,” he said. “Connecting these trails into a large network rather than lonely segments will allow trail usage to skyrocket and people are going to see the full potential.”
Instead of runs, these days Mr. Selby kicks off every day with an hour-long walk with his partner Karen and their loveable dog Buddy near their residence, a home that’s been in his family for 72 years located on Key Peninsula facing Henderson Bay. The family enjoys beautiful views of Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier. The love of trails runs in the family, with John’s brother Jeff volunteering for the close-by Peninsula Trails Coalition.
His greatest hopes for the Foothills Trail are its eventual completion which will create a continuous path from the Puget Sound all the way to Mt. Rainier National Park. He foresees Gail Canyon being the best, most scenic route for the completion, however three other routes are under consideration. He also hopes more in-person opportunities become available, like events and the reinstatement of the Courtesy Patrol which created just one more important connection with the local community.
John says, “The thing I am most proud of is creating the Rainier to Ruston Relay, known as the R2R. In 2003 we were trying to find a way to get people out on the trail on National Trails Day, the first Saturday of June. I thought, I know how running relays work. I’ve run the nearly 200-mile Hood to Coast Relay 17 times. So, in 2003 I organized a relay from Mt. Rainier to Ruston Way on Puget Sound with family and friends. In 2005 the Coalition agreed to sponsor it, and the rest is history. It has become our largest fundraiser and has introduced thousands of people to the Foothills Trail. I am trying to make the world a better place, and the Foothills Trail Coalition is one of the best ways to do just that.”
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!
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:
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.
Say Hello to our New Board Members!
We are thrilled to welcome Tim O’Brien and Alex Juchems to the Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition Board, following their election at our January board meeting.
Tim O’Brien
Tim is a retired business professional and President of the Enumclaw Plateau Community Association, where he works on local trails, land use, and forest restoration. He’s passionate about expanding the trail network for both recreation and transportation.
Alex Juchems
A resident of Bonney Lake, Alex is deeply committed to native habitat restoration and community wellness. As a long-time supporter of Rails to Trails, he’s dedicated to preserving trails as vital habitats and resources for future generations.
We are excited to have them on board and look forward to the contributions they’ll make to our work!
Trail Update: Orting Detour – Emergency Evacuation Bridge Project
If you’ve been on the Foothills Trail through Orting recently, you may have noticed a temporary detour near Bridge Street. The City of Orting is currently constructing an Emergency Evacuation Bridge over the Carbon River, a critical safety project designed to provide residents with a reliable escape route in case of flooding or lahar events.
To accommodate trail users during construction, the contractor is excavating a 10-foot dedicated trail within the right-of-way along Old Pioneer Way. This ensures a safe and accessible detour route while work continues on the bridge. The project is expected to continue through spring 2026.
Recently, Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition and ForeverGreen Trails toured the detour route to ensure that it meets the needs of trail users. We appreciate the City of Orting’s efforts in coordinating this solution and ensuring a smooth alternative during construction.
More details are available here.
Thank you for your continued support as we work to keep the Foothills Trail safe, connected, and accessible for all!
Board Member Spotlight: John Selby
For more than 20 years, John Selby has been a permanent fixture for the Foothills Trail Coalition. Recruited by founding member Ernie Bay, Mr. Selby was talked into joining early in his retirement. As a lifelong lover of the outdoors and trails, the commitment was one that was easy to say yes to.
“My first job was on a trail crew in Olympic National Park,” Mr. Selby said. “I started the job the summer after high school graduation and continued it for three years while I was in college. I just loved being out there. And I still love it all these years later.”
Mr. Selby has deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, having grown up in Port Angeles before attending University of Washington. Upon graduation as a mechanical engineer, he joined the Peace Corps to avoid the Vietnam War and relocated to Tunis, Tunisia with his wife Dottie along his side for a two-year stint managing the diesel electric production for the country.
Upon the conclusion of his Peace Corps commitment, the Selbys returned to the Seattle area where John had hopes of working for Boeing, but the company was in a slump, making furthering his education an appealing opportunity. While Mrs. Selby worked at Seattle Metro, Mr. Selby worked toward his Master’s Degree in mechanical engineering which ultimately led to a career at Weyerhaeuser Research and Development which would last 30 years, in the first five of which he worked in Washington, Oregon, and Oklahoma.
During this time, he and Dottie settled down in Edgewood where he quickly became an avid user of the Foothills Trail and began a 50-year love affair with running – one he ended on his 80th birthday on December 21, 2022.
Together, the Selbys volunteered for the Mt. Rainier Meadow Rovers program – an important organization within the National Park that involves interacting with park visitors and providing educational information about the park, its trails, wildlife, ecosystem, and more. The Selbys enjoyed this opportunity for more than 15 years – until Dottie’s passing in 2011.
Since then, Mr. Selby has remained active with the Foothills Trail Coalition and stuck close to the area, seeing the organization undergo a positive transformation and reach decades-long goals. His involvement has not been limited to the role of board member, he also served as the editor of the Trail Line News for eight years and he continues to be a regular contributor to the publication.
For decades, the Foothills Trail Coalition was a source of community, with many in-person events and monthly meetings lost to COVID and the now-gone Courtesy Patrol.
The Courtesy Patrol used to meet once a month and interact with trail users. Typically a guest speaker was invited to join them with an interest in trails, the outdoors, or similar organizations, which would garner community interest and provide education.
With the disbursement of some highlights of the organization have come the rise of others.
“I think one of the greatest changes has been hiring an excellent executive director,” he said. “We’ve had amazing presidents and board members over the years, but there are challenges with our organization being volunteer-led. Bringing in Shayla was a game changer and I’m looking forward to seeing Breanna carry on a lot of those changes and contribute new ones of her own.”
John, alongside the entire Coalition, recently celebrated the official completion and opening of the Foothills Bridge over the White River which now connects Pierce County to King County.
“It’s amazing to finally see this project completed and I think it’s one of the Coalition’s greatest achievements,” he said. “Connecting these trails into a large network rather than lonely segments will allow trail usage to skyrocket and people are going to see the full potential.”
Instead of runs, these days Mr. Selby kicks off every day with an hour-long walk with his partner Karen and their loveable dog Buddy near their residence, a home that’s been in his family for 72 years located on Key Peninsula facing Henderson Bay. The family enjoys beautiful views of Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier. The love of trails runs in the family, with John’s brother Jeff volunteering for the close-by Peninsula Trails Coalition.
His greatest hopes for the Foothills Trail are its eventual completion which will create a continuous path from the Puget Sound all the way to Mt. Rainier National Park. He foresees Gail Canyon being the best, most scenic route for the completion, however three other routes are under consideration. He also hopes more in-person opportunities become available, like events and the reinstatement of the Courtesy Patrol which created just one more important connection with the local community.
John says, “The thing I am most proud of is creating the Rainier to Ruston Relay, known as the R2R. In 2003 we were trying to find a way to get people out on the trail on National Trails Day, the first Saturday of June. I thought, I know how running relays work. I’ve run the nearly 200-mile Hood to Coast Relay 17 times. So, in 2003 I organized a relay from Mt. Rainier to Ruston Way on Puget Sound with family and friends. In 2005 the Coalition agreed to sponsor it, and the rest is history. It has become our largest fundraiser and has introduced thousands of people to the Foothills Trail. I am trying to make the world a better place, and the Foothills Trail Coalition is one of the best ways to do just that.”
Foothills Rails to Trails Coalition Board Member Nominees – 2025
The Foothills Coalition will elect board members at its upcoming meeting on January 23, 2025. Meet the candidates below!
Tim O’Brien
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I am a retired from a business career that has taken me around the world and across the country – including participating in trail conferences to promote, improve and trail building. I am passionate about bicycling, hiking and everyday adventures. I think that if more people can enjoy their life and community like this, the world will be a better place. I am the President and leader of Enumclaw Plateau Community Association that aims to build a better more inclusive local community by getting our county government to work better for us. EPCA focuses on land use issues, local trails and forest/vegetation restoration projects.
Why do you want to serve on the Foothills Coalition board? I want to help build local community through trails, and expand and build a trail network that will be a long-term community resource for recreation and transportation.
Alex Juchems
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I’m married and have two grown children, ages 23 and 18. We live in Bonney Lake, moving here in April 2021 after living for 20 years in Auburn. Gardening, hobby rocketry, hiking, and reading are some of the activities that I most enjoy. Restoring native habitat is an area of great interest to me including preserving native insects such as moths. We are in the process of restoring our 1/2 acre property with native trees, shrubs, and meadows. My son and I are both avid rocketeers, building and flying high power rockets.
Why do you want to serve on the Foothills Coalition board? I’m a long-time supporter of Rails to Trails and firmly believe in the importance of preserving these common areas for the good of community health, wellness, and social well-being. I am also a long-time member of Rainier Audubon and support Puget Sound Bird Observatory's wetland bird surveys. I see trails, such as the Foothills Trail as critical habitat that must be preserved both for the success of nature and as a way to engage the community in safely observing nature. Serving on the Foothills Coalition Board is one of the ways I can pay forward as a way to ensure future generations have access to the many benefits trails have to offer.
Spiketon Ditch Bridge Funding Secured: A Win for the Foothills Trail
The Foothills Rails to Trails Coalition is excited to announce the successful funding for the replacement of the Spiketon Ditch Bridge on the Foothills Trail. This achievement is a testament to the power of advocacy, collaboration, and a shared commitment to enhancing Pierce County’s trail system.
The Spiketon Ditch Bridge is a key part of the Foothills Trail, connecting communities and drawing visitors who boost local businesses. Its closure due to safety concerns was a setback, felt especially during the celebration of the White River Bridge opening this summer. However, it spurred action to expedite its replacement. The Foothills Rails to Trails Coalition, alongside ForeverGreen Trails and Pierce County Parks, worked diligently to secure funding. We coordinated messaging with trail advocates and testified at County Council budget sessions to highlight public support. These actions ensured funding approval, with construction planned for Summer 2025.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the County Parks Department, the County Council, and the Executive for prioritizing this essential project. As we look to 2025 and beyond, the Foothills Rails to Trails Coalition remains dedicated to advocating for investment in recreational infrastructure and ensuring our trails continue to thrive.
Thank you for your continued support of our mission. Together, we’re paving the way for a brighter, more connected future.
Foothills Coalition Welcomes New Executive Director
We’re excited to welcome Breanna Fokes as the new Executive Director of the Foothills Coalition! With over 15 years of experience in the outdoor industry, including roles at KEEN Footwear and CLIF Bar, Breanna brings a wealth of expertise in marketing, community engagement, and outdoor education.
A passionate outdoor enthusiast, Breanna has enjoyed Foothills Trail firsthand and is eager to build on our vision started nearly 40 years ago. In her new role, she’ll focus on leading the execution of our strategic plan, continuing fundraising efforts, fostering partnerships, and advocating for outdoor recreation.
Please join us in welcoming Breanna to the team!
White River Pedestrian Bridge – Decades in the Making
During her nearly 30 years of involvement in the Foothills Coalition, Pat Johnson, one of our current board members, couldn’t be more excited about the completion of the White River Pedestrian Bridge set to open later this month.
“This is a project that’s taken a lot of advocacy and a lot of collaboration over the past 10 years, and finally we’ll have a bridge that will not only improve the Foothills Trail, but give trail users easier and safer access to Enumclaw and King County,” she said.
The bridge will increase recreational usage of the Foothills Trail with residents of both counties now being able to access the other easier than ever, and being built out of steel, has an expected lifespan of 70-80 years, ensuring its use by future generations.
“I’ve seen the Foothills Trail make such a positive impact on the quality of life of local residents over the years. For me, it’s a great way to get out in nature and clear my mind,” she said. “And I see people of every age out on the Trail enjoying themselves almost every day.”
As the former mayor of Buckley, Ms. Johnson is eager to see utilization of Buckley’s public services by its nearest neighbors.
“There are such great offerings in Buckley that are immediately along the Foothills Trail including restaurants, ice cream and coffee shops, and activities like our playground, skatepark, and the Youth Activity Center that will be easily accessible along with our downtown and the great events we host like Tunes Along the Trail,” she said.
The new Foothills Trail Bridge over the White River will give Pierce County Foothills users the opportunity to continue to extend their rides by about two and a half miles, following Encumclaw’s paved trail system that spans the entire town and leads into King County’s network of trails.
Ms. Johnson anticipates the new White River Pedestrian Bridge will create a new opportunity for Pierce County residents to opt for commuting using the Foothills Trail rather than driving.
“There’s no question that biking home to Pierce County will be quicker than the drive,” she said. “SR-410 experiences terrible backups during rush hour so this is a great, fast alternative that’s both good for residents and the environment.”
Ms. Johnson is a near-daily Foothills Trail user and is looking forward to more than extending her regular walks along the Foothills Trail; she’s eager to use the new bridge as a vantage point to see salmon, eagles, and other birds that frequent the area.
The Foothills Coalition extends their sincere thanks to former Buckley mayor Pat Johnson as well as King County, Pierce County, and the Washington Recreation & Conservation Office, among many other individuals, for making this project a reality!