OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Olympic National Park is going back to the drawing board for plans to extend the Olympic Discovery Trail along Lake Crescent.
The park announced Wednesday that it will create a new environmental assessment to replace the one in development after reviewing 143 comments, many of which voiced concern over safety and wheelchair access.
“Members of the public brought up important issues, particularly surrounding accessibility, safety, and visitor experience, and we will fully examine and analyze them as we develop the revised EA,” park Superintendent Karen Gustin said in a written statement.
A new 30-day public comment period also will be held, though dates have not been selected.
The park was considering plans to construct the 3.5-mile segment along the former Spruce Railroad grade at six feet wide, rather than the eight feet typically seen along the trail system, in order to preserve the original railroad ballast.
That would mean a portion of the former railroad would be too steep for wheelchairs to avoid cutting down trees and disturbing soil near the lake.
That prompted opposition from the Peninsula Trails Coalition, the Clallam County commissioners and Port Angeles City Council who said the trail should be wider and use an alternative route to avoid the steep, 18 percent grade.
Barb Maynes, park spokeswoman, said solutions to those concerns could be considered among the new alternatives.
But the park has made no decisions, she said, as to what the trail will look like, and whether proposals made by the county and trails coalition will be adopted.
“I know people are eager for a decision . . . we’re examining a full range of alternatives,” Maynes said.
“We got to do it right and make sure we are making a decision based on as much information as we can get.”
Andy Stevenson, trails coalition vice president, said he views the announcement as a “very positive outcome” but added he is still somewhat skeptical that the new process will resolve the coalition’s concerns.
“I view this as close to the best [outcome] as we could get at this moment in time,” he said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
