WTA teams up with Everett to increase access to local trails

Within a residential neighborhood of south Everett, tucked between expansive public sport fields and a golf course, a network of trails winds through towering trees, thriving native flora and a fragile yet precious wetland ecosystem. This also happens to be where the first ever collaboration between WTA and the City of Everett is taking place.

Loganberry Lane volunteers work to transport gravel used to help set fence post framing. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

“There are these two really developed parks but the trails themselves are really densely forest, so when you’re down in there you feel like you’re away from the bright lights of the sports complex and the openness of the golf courses,” said Katherine Philips, parks capital projects coordinator for the City of Everett. 

Inside this park also lies a watershed divide, meaning the water systems that run through Loganberry Lane connect to the Puget Sound on the north and Lake Washington on the south. This makes this space important not only to local residents, but also a critical area for habitat restoration efforts in the region.

Trail crews grab tools for WTA's first official day of trail work at Loganberry Lane. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

In 2022, the City of Everett identified this urban green space as a priority equity zone. According to the city, the area is home to many Black, Indigenous and people of color residents. Many of the households in the area also have a low median household income. According to the National Institute of Health, access to greenspaces can provide tremendous benefits to the mental and physical wellbeing of a community by providing opportunities for physical activity, connection to community and an opportunity to escape from daily stressors.

Brandon Tigner, WTA’s senior North Puget Sound trails coordinator helps to lay initial fencing on section of trail at Loganberry Lane. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

“This project aims to create a trail system that connects neighborhoods to green spaces, promotes walkability and provides residents with easy access to outdoor recreation. The City of Everett has identified this area as a priority equity zone, ensuring that the benefits of the trail system reach communities that have historically had limited access to such amenities,” said Brandon Tigner, WTA’s senior North Puget Sound trails coordinator.

• The Trail next Door
• WTA’s Trails Next Door campaign is working to ensure that nature is in reach for everyone in Washington. We're collaborating with city parks and partner organizations to build and maintain local trails to increase access to green spaces across the state.

Residents were seeking access to this hidden gem and the city heard them. 

“We have received feedback from community members that the trails are hard to navigate. They’re difficult to use during the rainy season. So we decided to work with WTA to improve the trail conditions and make the trails easier to access,” Katherine said. One of the city’s goals is to increase the number of  residents within a 10 minute walk of this park, helping to eliminate transportation barriers to park access.

Brandon said that the work, which began in November and will stretch into April of 2025, will offer some fun projects for volunteers.

“The trail build itself will feature several exciting elements such as boardwalks, turnpikes, new trail construction, fence construction, and the installation of an informational kiosk,” he said “These additions will improve the functionality and aesthetics of the trail system, making it more engaging and accessible for visitors.”

Tigner capturing images for social media. Look forward to seeing more content from this worksite from Brandon in the near future! Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

As part of the project, the city’s communications and parks teams are collaborating to develop more in-depth trail information and signage to provide navigational aids and educate hikers on the space they’re exploring. 

Kurt Imerman, a Seattle resident who has been a volunteer with WTA since 2018, was one of the volunteers on the first day of work on the project. He noted how excited he was to be working on this Trails Next Door project  

Kurt Imerman carries wheel barrel full of gravel to trail crews installing fencing. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

“It’s nice to see WTA work around where people live, not just out in the wilderness. Both are awesome, it’s just nice to see them do this kind of work to benefit people that live locally,” he said.

Interested in volunteering at Loganberry Lane or a trail like it? Visit wta.org/volunteer.