Public Open Houses Scheduled for Chelatchie Prairie Rail and Trail Planning Project

Vancouver, WA- Clark County Public Works and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation will host two public open houses for the Chelatchie Prairie Rail with Trail planning project:

July 10 from 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Brush Prairie High School
11500 NE 117 Avenue

and

July 11 from 6:30p.m. to 8:30p.m.
Yacolt Elementary
406 West Yacolt Road

The proposed trail planning project follows the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad right-of-way. This existing rail line, also known as the Lewis & Clark Railroad, extends 35 miles diagonally through Clark County from Burnt Bridge Creek at Interstate 5 to the site of an old paper mill a few miles from Yale Reservoir. Preliminary planning work is underway to identify options for placing a trail adjacent to the rail line. A final plan will be completed by summer of 2008.

At the open houses project staff will display information about the corridor and identify opportunities and constraints for public review and comment. Feedback gathered at this public meeting will assist project staff to develop and refine the trail alignment plan.

Parents are encouraged to bring their children to this meeting and light refreshments will be provided. Those not able to attend will be able to review the planning materials on the project Web page: www.chelatchie.org. The site will allow feedback on the concept plans electronically starting the day after the public meeting.

Funding for this initial planning comes from a Federal Transportation Enhancement grant, Park Regional Real Estate Excise Taxes, and the Clark County Road Fund.

For more information about this project, please contact Carolyn Heniges at 360-397-6118 x 4522, or by email.