Green River City Council accepts Greenbelt Task Force trail, lighting and dog-park improvements

A representative of the Greenbelt Task Force told the Green River City Council that years of volunteer work, grant writing and private donations have produced new and upgraded trails, lighting and dog-park amenities that the group is offering to the city.

The council voted unanimously to accept the completed projects into city ownership, with city staff to assume maintenance under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Task Force and the city.

The Task Force representative described connections made over the past three years that now produce nearly continuous paved pathway surface in parts of the Green Belt, new lighting, signage, access improvements and restored park areas. "Our success begins with the river pathways," the representative said, outlining work that included a quarter-mile segment built by a local church and another quarter-mile built by a construction company that were connected this year.

Katie Duncombe, director of Parks and Recreation, told the council the city is prepared to accept specific completed projects under the MOU and take over routine upkeep with continued help from volunteers. She listed the items the Task Force asked to donate: the solar lighting project along the Green Belt, the Tea Kettle Trail, two new shelters at the dog park, the FMC trail extension (described in the meeting as an extension to the existing single-track area), and the buck-and-rail fence at FMC Park.

The Task Force presentation cited multiple funding sources and donated services. The presenter said about $10,000 was raised through grant applications and local donors to support boardwalk repairs, Rocky Mountain Power provided and installed poles for lighting, and state agencies assisted with placement to avoid impacts to wildlife. The presentation also cited volunteer and in-kind contributions from local contractors for earthwork and hauling, and an itemized list of other contributions and engineering services. The Task Force estimated more than 1,500 volunteer hours logged over the past two years and reported $107,000 in grant revenue secured this year.

Task Force volunteers and local contractors were credited in the presentation. The speaker named Bill Lewis as a lead volunteer who organized second-Saturday volunteer crews; Cyril Brothers was cited as a contractor that provided dirt work; Wiley Construction was credited with transporting rock used at FMC Park; and William H. Smith was credited with engineering work. The presentation also referenced work by Green River High School students, saying the Green River High School National Honor Society raised funds used at the dog park.

Council members who spoke during and after the presentation praised the volunteers and project partners. A council member said he had been trying for years to get lighting added to the Green Belt and thanked the Task Force and its partners for delivering that improvement.

The council's acceptance was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote with no opposition. The council did not specify additional city funding at the time of acceptance; Duncombe said the city will assume maintenance responsibilities under the MOU and that some projects were paid for with external grants and donations.

The Task Force representative closed by outlining next-year priorities that included completion of the Skyline Trail and the Cattle Trail, installation of water stations at high-demand locations, boardwalk repairs, and retrofitting benches to be more accessible. The representative also asked the council for $10,000 to begin one boardwalk repair grant match process; Duncombe and the Task Force representative said the city would review that request within normal budget and grant procedures.

The council photo opportunity with Task Force volunteers followed the acceptance vote.

The presentation and council action took place during a regular session of the Green River City Council and were recorded in the meeting minutes.