The city of Kent is working on a plan to connect the Green River and Interurban Trails at the north end of the city near South 196th Street, creating a loop trail experience and making the town a regional biking and recreation destination.

City planning has started for the proposed Kent Valley Loop Trail, a paved, 12-mile, multi-use loop capitalizing on the intersection of the Green River and Interurban trails at Foster Park at the city’s southern end.

According to Kent Parks’ project manager Brian Levenhagen, the city has a rare opportunity to create an outstanding attraction.

“Regional trails don’t often intersect, and if they do, they’re usually not situated to create a loop experience,” said Levenhagen in a city media release. “But these trails are close together, and they’re in such close proximity to downtown and other area attractions. We have a great opportunity to close the loop, so to speak, and create a feature that’s rare on this side of the state.”

Levenhagen referred to the Apple Capital Loop Trail in the Wenatchee Valley as an example of what’s possible in Kent.

“Wenatchee’s loop runs along the shore of the Columbia River leading through parks and natural areas, as well as through industrial and agricultural areas,” he said. “It’s immensely popular for biking, walking, running and skating. It’s a treasured community asset and I’m excited about the possibility we have to create something similar here.”

Trail features

“Not only would the loop trail feature fantastic views of Mount Rainier and the Green River, it would better connect the Green River and Interurban trails to neighborhoods, parks and downtown.

“What’s so great is that much of the loop is already in place; by creating a north connection, we could make better use of it,” Levenhagen said. “Our challenge is to identify the best option to close the loop at the north end of the city, in the vicinity of South 196th Street.”

Levenhagen acknowledges some cyclists already connect at the north-end using city streets.

“We know it’s possible to ride a loop now, and some cyclists do; but, with the right improvements we believe the loop can be more attractive to a much wider range of users,” he said. “In order to make that happen, we need to have a plan in place. A loop trail master plan will be very helpful in attracting state and federal grant money and even private partners.”

Funding the trail

The city has not allocated funding for the construction of the loop trail improvements. The proposed loop was one of the recommendations of the “Let’s Go Kent” walking and biking study paid for by a $120,000 grant from the King County Department of Health.

Levenhagen said it’s difficult to make formal requests for funding without a proposal in hand.

“Potential funders want to see the big picture,” he said. “So having the dollars in place isn’t always a necessary first step. Before the loop trail can become a reality, we have to anticipate and address the needs and wants of the current trail and potential loop trail users.”

Public ideas wanted

“We really want to hear what would make the loop trail experience ideal for them,” Levenhagen said about public input. “Is it signage, improved visibility, the number of restrooms, water fountains, trash cans or something else?”

To help ensure the master plan incorporates those components, the city selected Berger Partnership, a Seattle-based landscape architecture and urban design firm, to assist with the planning and public outreach necessary to create a high–quality loop trail experience.

An interactive public involvement process is planned for the community to be a part of the development of the loop trail plan.  A survey seeking ideas on what types of features the loop trail should include is available at KentValleyLoopTrail.com.

“We know it’s difficult for most people to attend public meetings after hours, that’s why we’ve created this opportunity to share ideas online,” Levenhagen said. “The potential benefits of the Kent Valley Loop Trail are numerous. Besides creating a place for increased recreation for residents, the loop trail could also become a regional destination for visitors, too.”