Committee member volunteers to lead Washington Scenic Bikeway nomination for Olympic Discovery Trail

A committee member announced at the meeting that they have volunteered to prepare a nomination to the Washington State Parks Scenic Bikeway program, seeking designation for a route that largely follows the Olympic Discovery Trail across the North Olympic Peninsula.

The announcer, who identified himself as an active local trails advocate, said the nomination window for the first round closes Nov. 3 and that Washington State Parks intends to designate only five routes in this initial round. Steve Durant, listed in roll call as representing Puget Sound and Pacific Collaborative and serving on the program’s advisory panel, confirmed the timeline and said letters of support and demonstration of community involvement are likely to be important in later stages of the selection process.

Committee members discussed whether to put the nomination on the Trails Advisory Committee’s November agenda for discussion and whether the committee should offer a letter of support. The committee’s consensus was to allow the volunteer to proceed with the nomination process and to add the topic to a future agenda so members can decide whether to provide formal support. Committee members noted that letters and jurisdictional approvals are generally requested in later review stages and that the nomination’s initial level does not require formal letters of support.

No formal committee endorsement or funding was approved at the meeting.