CHIMACUM — Jefferson County Public Works officials hope to finish the design and acquire the public right of way by the end of this year to clear the way for construction of a mile-long stretch of Rick Tollefson Memorial Trail between H.J. Carroll Park and the Bob Bates Ballfields.
Including a bridge crossing at Chimacum Creek near Carroll park, it would be the first segment of a proposed network of paved trails proposed for safe pedestrian access around the Tri-Area of Port Hadlock, Irondale and Chimacum.
Future phases of the project will extend to the Chimacum School campus and the commercial heart of Port Hadlock at QFC shopping center.
“We’re trying to develop community support and get the right of way,” said Gordon Ramstrom, county public works architectural projects planner.
The trail memorializes the late Port Hadlock contractor Rick Tollefson and his legacy of support to county Parks and Recreation.
The project now has two grants totaling $400,000 from the state Department of Transportation and a bicycle and pedestrian state grant.
This non-motorized trail project is an opportunity to provide safe routes to schools and recreation and conserve the Chimacum Creek area, Ramstrom said.
Public works officials met with about 14 people during an open house Tuesday night at Jefferson County Library.
“There were some concerns with public access to the area and the impact on wetlands,” Ramstrom said, adding that right-of-way acquisition was already under way.
He said county officials would also look at ways to mitigate the environmental effects of the trail on critical areas.
“We explored a variety of routes, and at the end of the pre-design phase, we will be determining the more practical routes,” Ramstrom said.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
