To keep rebellious Renaissance Trail users from skirting barriers aimed at preventing them from using an unstable section of the popular path near Wintler Park, Vancouver has beefed up security.
About 2,000 feet — more than one-third of a mile — of six-foot-tall temporary fencing went in along the path Tuesday, aimed at preventing people from trespassing on private property to use the condemned trail rather than make the short detour to Columbia Way.
“Given the attractive nature of the trail and the length of time we anticipate to get design and permitting done, the fencing is fairly robust,” City Manager Eric Holmes wrote in an email memo to the city council. “The intent here is to assure safety of the public, as well as protect abutting property as we pursue a permanent solution.”
But what that permanent solution could be isn’t clear.
Geotechnical work and initial design will cost between $100,000 and $200,000, parks officials estimated. Construction would be more than that, and the city lacks the money to complete the repairs without pulling it from another department or finding an outside way to pay. The trail has been closed since June, when floodwaters eroded the banks supporting the path. City leaders say they don’t know when repairs would be complete.
