Undergrounding by PUD opens short window for Diamond Point–park connector; county to consult State Parks

County staff briefed the Collin County Trails Advisory Committee on utility work near Miller Peninsula State Park and explored whether the cleared corridor could become a short‑term trail connector from Diamond Point to the Olympic Discovery Trail.

Staff said the PUD is undergrounding power in a corridor that overlaps a conceptual connector from the state park parking area to Diamond Point; county representatives suggested the recent clearing could offer a practical, interim opportunity to create a dirt trail connection. A Washington State Parks contact was reported to be on the meeting roster but not present; staff said the park currently lacks funding to implement a full connector and that the county would need to coordinate with State Parks before spending county funds.

Will Habel said the county issued right‑of‑way permits for the PUD work and that the county could explore whether a temporary dirt trail could be established in the disturbed corridor. Committee members cautioned that any temporary work would require future maintenance to prevent invasive-species growth and that formal design and funding would be needed for a permanent route.

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Staff said they will follow up with State Parks and PUD to confirm whether a short‑term dirt trail could be established on the cleared corridor and whether the park can prioritize a longer connector in its park master plan.