WTA celebrates a big win with a ribbon cutting on a revamped local trail

On a sunny day in June, neighbors, WTA staff and volunteers, and City of Everett staff gathered to celebrate the official opening of Loganberry Lane, a revamped trail system in Everett. It was a stark contrast to the rainy, chilly day at the groundbreaking work party in November. 

WTA crews helped build over 500 feet of split rail fence and a 40-foot turnpike; constructed kiosks and placed trail markers; built a massive 100-foot boardwalk through wetlands; and established over 1000 feet of trail, throughout a well-used and well-loved trail system in Everett. 

WTA staff and volunteers celebrate alongside representatives from the city of Everett. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

“This project literally had everything, said Brandon Tigner, WTA’s senior North Puget Sound trails coordinator. “We used power equipment to haul gravel. Folks learn carpentry skills. Folks learn how to put in Diamond pier blocks in the wetlands. This project had such a diverse range of things from start to finish.” 

“If you want to see a big variety of what you can do on a WTA work party, this is it,” said Pat Limberg, who has been volunteering with WTA since 1996. She worked on more than a dozen work parties at Loganberry. Pat wasn’t the only one who came back often to work on this popular trail. 

“We had 339 unique individuals from WTA (staff and volunteers) who worked on Loganberry who contributed an average of 16 hours each. We had several people who worked 20 plus days on the project and even a few who volunteered more than 30 days out of 42 days,” said Andy James, WTA’s trail crew leader who helped lead several work parties.

Two of WTA’s dedicated volunteers, Pat and Anne volunteered as ambassadors for WTA at Loganberry earlier this spring. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

This speaks to the importance of having work parties at local community trails, as well as the dedication of WTA volunteers. 

Brandon also noted the growth he witnessed in many of the project's volunteers. 

“By the end, it seemed like most folks on the work party were experts on these projects, which was really cool, he said. “We empowered crew leaders to take on projects that they had never done before and they utilized this opportunity to build their skills.”

WTA volunteers and staff worked to construct a 100-foot boardwalk in order to protect the fragile wetlands. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

The progress of the trail work was also documented in a way unique to most WTA work parties, through Facebook lives that Brandon coordinated. 

“We tried to do it in each phase of the project to show for projects getting started, and then projects finished, and then once we were moving on to next, we would broadcast from the trail live on to Facebook so folks could see, in real time,” Brandon said. 

Brandon speaks to volunteers on the first, rainy work party in November. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

Anne Kang, a dedicated WTA volunteer who has attended over 200 work parties, including several at Loganberry, appreciates the chance to work on Trail Next Door projects like this.

“Being able to give back to that community… where it’s not just only in the mountains where you have to drive an hour or maybe even farther to experience nature but in your backyard,” Anne said. 

Volunteers celebrate at the ribbon cutting and admire the kiosk they helped construct, which includes a map of the trail system. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

Nearly a mile of trails loop through the 7-acre plot, which is bordered by manufacturing complexes as well as Holly Park, one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the city. Nearby workers, residents and dog walkers had asked for improvements to their beloved and highly trafficked trail system. These trails also pass by fragile wetlands, which lay on a watershed divide that connects to both the Sammamish River and the Puget Sound, making restoration valuable for not only the community but the local ecosystem.

“Over the years, the parks department has worked on the trails but they hadn’t formally defined them and hadn't yet established a regular maintenance plan. With WTA as our partner, we were able to create more formal trail maps, get more wayfinding signs out and formalize the trail arrangement,” said Katherine Phillips, City of Everett program coordinator.

Katherine Phillips with one of the wayfinding signs throughout the trail system. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

Katherine said she loves the new turnpike and boardwalk but also has particular fondness of the wayfinding signs throughout the park. Her first time visiting she found it hard to tell if she was still on city property or what to expect around the corner. But not anymore. 

“People know not only what way their destination is and how far away, but (the signs) also tell you, you are in a city of Everett Park and you are welcome here,” she said.

The first wayfinding sign located near the Athletic Complex at Kasch Park. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

We hope you’ll visit Loganberry Lane (or your favorite Trail Next Door) and leave a trip report!