Part 2 of 2
SEELEY LAKE - For more than 15 years, the Seeley Lake Community Council has been working to improve the “Connecting the Community” trail network. The goal was to provide multi-use routes within the business and residential areas and connect to the surrounding public lands.
The bylaws of the council contain the phrase “benefiting the community,” to give them the direction to seek grants to begin improving the network. Their basic strategy was to start on Boy Scout Road at Highway 83 and work clockwise around the lake. They received three grants to improve the trail almost to Deer Creek. It was good enough for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to let a contract to gravel it from Lars Kramen to Seeley Lake Campground.
Later the council started hearing from parents that there were “too many Dodges to dodge” on the Airport Road to allow kids to walk or bicycle on it. An informal agreement between the council, County Road Department and State Highway Department started working on the pathway.
As opportunities arose, low places were filled, culverts installed, utilities moved. The community council received a couple of grants for equipment work to level the fill, cut off some high points and do some weed control. A couple years ago the ATV Club received a grant to gravel the stretch from top of High School Hill to Morrell Creek. The Airport Road pathway project has been stalled because the County has declared a moratorium on piece meal work, wanting it to be finished all at once.
A major blow for the council getting more trail and pathway work in the community came a couple years ago when it was determined the community council did not have the legal standing to assume contract obligations. Grants are considered a contract obligation. That means getting new money for work is very difficult for the community council.
At a meeting about three years ago, discussion centered on how could the “Connecting The Community” trail program continue with the financial constraints. One suggestion was for the council trail committee to form a non-profit corporation to become eligible for grants. That prospect met with some reluctance because there was already several non-profits with the potential for receiving grants for trail work.
Rather than a new non-profit, the consensus was to gain stronger collaboration between existing groups, even expanding to include adjacent communities. After that, the current “Seeley Lake Trails Project” coordinated by the Clearwater Resource Council began to gel.
The importance of trails and pathways for “Connecting The Community” is recognized. That includes within the business and residential area as well as connecting to the surrounding public lands and other communities.
Future Needs
Over the past 15 years quite a bit of progress has been made on the community trails and pathways but more work is needed. The northwest segment of the 13-mile “Around The Lake” trail is on the roadway and needs to be constructed along the road.
The highway crossing at Auggie Creek needs to be relocated farther south to a place with better sight distance.
The return loop of the trail behind the Community Hall needs improvement.
Perhaps the most important need is to complete the Airport Road pathway between Frontier Drive and the top of High School Hill.
The council is now evaluating how our neighborhood trails and pathways can best be managed, maintained and improved. Information is to be presented at the November meeting with a decision expected in January.
Community volunteers and contributions have been the foundation for accomplishing the existing “Connecting The Community” trail and pathway system. Community involvement will be essential for further development of recreational routes in the community and valley.
Reader Comments(0)