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Commission approves Open Lands Trail and Recreation Plan backed by state restoration funds amid mixed public views
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Summary
County commissioners reviewed an Open Lands Trail & Recreation Plan funded in part by a state Natural Resource Damage Program amendment (up to $4 million) and approved the plan after public testimony that was split between concerns about bike-optimized trails and endorsements citing health and community benefits.
County commissioners reviewed an Open Lands Trail & Recreation Plan presented by county staff and the open lands steering committee and approved the plan after an extended public-comment period that produced both criticism and support.
Carl Hemming, county staff lead on the plan, introduced the update and turned the presentation over to Ray Vinkie of the Natural Resource Damage Program and Rich Keelan, chair of the open lands committee. Vinkie summarized the funding background: the state pursued a claim against Atlantic Richfield that resulted in a 2008 settlement of about $13,300,000 that funded cleanup and remediation. He said an amendment allows up to $4,000,000 to be spent on county lands for restoration and recreation, allocated in the amendment as roughly $1.9 million for recreation, $1.9 million for ecological and wildlife habitat projects and $200,000 for land purchase.
"Once we completed the cleanup on Stuckey Ridge and Mount Hagen, if there were remaining funds, up to $4,000,000 could be spent to pursue restoration actions on county lands," Vinkie said, noting annual NRDP work plans will guide which trails and projects are funded.
Rich Keelan described outreach and the planned trail network, saying, "Of the network, one third is adopted legacy trails and two thirds is proposed new constructed trails," and outlining a mix of motorized and nonmotorized designations intended to support multiuse access.
Public comment was extensive and divided. Jim Schneider questioned the survey's reach, saying the plan's survey had 498 respondents in a community of about 10,000 (about 5%), and urged more input and clearer ADA and funding plans. Janet Bomburger urged commissioners not to pass the plan "as is," saying the steering committee "completely disregarded the results of the community survey" and criticizing the characterization of many new nonmotorized trails as "bike optimized." Supporters including health professionals, trail-society members and recreation users urged adoption, emphasizing community health benefits and local stewardship; the Anaconda Trail Society said it plans to help fund a foundational trail.
Commissioners asked about costs and prioritization. NRDP and staff said the program funds are intended as a foundation that can be used as match to leverage additional grants; annual priority lists will be developed by the open lands steering committee and evaluated against available funding and state criteria.
After discussion and public testimony, a commissioner indicated the plan was approved. Next steps include integrating NRDP annual work plans, prioritizing projects on an annual basis and coordinating grant-seeking and local sponsorship to implement foundational trails.