Walla Walla Valley proponent updates College Place council on Sweet Onion Bikeway nomination
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Summary
A Walla Walla resident told College Place council the Walla Walla Valley Sweet Onion Bikeway scored 31.8 of 35 in Washington State Parks' Scenic Bikeway program and advanced to stage 2; if designated, the route could receive wayfinding signage funding through the Washington State Trails Association.
Dawn Olguin, a Walla Walla resident and member of the proponent group for the Walla Walla Valley Sweet Onion Bikeway, updated the City of College Place council during public comment on Feb. 24 on the route's progress through Washington State Parks' Scenic Bikeways program.
Olguin said the route earned a score of 31.8 out of 35 and is among eight routes that advanced to stage 2. She described the planning process: the proponent group will deliver a 20-minute presentation and a 10-minute Q&A to state reviewers, depicting a "day in the life" of the route and highlighting starting/ending points, key stops, scenic, cultural and recreational values.
She outlined route specifics and community support: the route starts and ends at Pioneer Park and runs roughly 39 miles through College Place and neighboring areas, touching Roe Street, College Avenue, Whitman, Last Chance Road, Frog Hollow, Old Belton Highway, Mill Creek Recreational Trail and other local features. The Washington State Trails Association has offered funding for wayfinding signage for the first five designated routes; if the Sweet Onion Bikeway is selected, the trail could receive about one sign per mile (approximately 39 signs). Olguin said the proponent group had collected 11 letters of recommendation and had engaged both cities and county officials.
Olguin closed by saying the group will present to the state in the coming weeks and that she will update council on the application's progress after that presentation.
Quote: "The Walla Walla Valley Sweet Onion Bikeway scored a 31.8 out of a possible 35," Olguin said, noting the next presentation and Q&A before state reviewers.
The presentation and any future designation would be handled by Washington State Parks; council members thanked Olguin and encouraged continued coordination with regional partners.
