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Washougal greenway greeted

Camas residents and officials, staffers past and present hail trail through park along Washougal River

By Marissa Harshman, Columbian Health Reporter
Published: September 3, 2010, 12:00am
3 Photos
The Washougal River Greenway Trail in the 125-acre Camas park was completed this summer and dedicated Thursday.
The Washougal River Greenway Trail in the 125-acre Camas park was completed this summer and dedicated Thursday. The 370-foot steel-trussed pedestrian bridge connects neighborhoods south of the Washougal River to the Camas city center. Photo Gallery

Towering trees rustled in the breeze. Ospreys soared above the greenery. The sun cast a sparkle on the surface of the Washougal River.

And meandering in it all is a new paved, milelong trail that routes visitors through the 125-acre Washougal River Greenway.

The 20-year vision of numerous Camas elected officials and community members became a reality this summer.

“This is a multidecade dream come true,” City Administrator Lloyd Halverson said.

The city of Camas dedicated the $3.7 million Washougal River Greenway Trail Thursday afternoon. About 60 current and past city staffers, elected officials and community members gathered near the new trailhead, 200 S.E. Yale St., for the ceremony.

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Among the visitors were the three mayors who had a hand in the project throughout the years: former Mayors Nan Henricksen and Dean Dossett and Mayor Paul Dennis.

“It’s a historic occasion,” Dennis said. “You have three mayors here. I think that says a lot.”

The city assembled the 125-acre park parcel by parcel throughout the past two decades. The last piece was purchased about two to three years ago and opened the door for the city to begin the trail project. The city drafted plans to construct an 8-foot-wide paved trail, build a steel-trussed pedestrian bridge and install a 24-inch water main to carry water from the new well on the south side of the river to residents on the north side.

The city received $898,784 in grant money from the state Recreation and Conservation Office in 2007 and matched the funds to complete the construction of the bridge and trail. With other grants, city funds and donations from various groups and individuals, construction began. The project was completed this summer.

The water main beneath the bridge addressed the city’s need to increase the amount of water that could be transported from Well 14 to residents on the opposite side of the Washougal River, Halverson said.

The new 1.1-mile trail and 370-foot bridge connect to the Lacamas Heritage Trail, extending north 7.5 miles along Lacamas Creek and Lacamas Lake.

The trail also links neighborhoods south of the Washougal River to the Camas city center and the 350-acre Lacamas Lake Regional Park.

“You can walk the whole city of Camas from the southeast corner to the northwest corner on trail,” Halverson said.

In the few weeks that the trail has been open, community members have flocked to the area to ride their bicycles, walk their dogs and go on afternoon jogs.

Seeing decades of work by numerous city officials and employees come to fruition with the dedication of the new trail was rewarding for Dossett, who served as mayor from 1992 to 2003.

“The most satisfying part of being mayor is driving through town and seeing trees I helped save and trails I helped build,” Dossett said. “It’s very satisfying, even if I’m not actively involved anymore.”

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Columbian Health Reporter