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Home Our Work The Trail Next Door Early Successes

Early Successes

See what we've accomplished so far for urban trails.

WTA spent a lot of time in 2019 listening to partners, community based organizations and people who love hiking in urban spaces. But we were also getting work done on the ground, too. In 2019, WTA volunteers contributed more than 7,000 hours of work to urban trails and parks.

In addition to trail work, we've also made our Hiking Guide more robust so you can find your next nearby hike a little easier. In total, we have over 140 urban hikes in the guide, and that number continues to grow. And, thanks to hikers like you, those hikes have over 12,000 trip reports on them, which means you have access to the latest conditions on the trail from people who have visited them recently!

Take a look at some of the other things we've been up to in the early stages of The Trail Next Door below.

MAINTAINING AND BUILDING URBAN TRAILS

McKinley Park by Alan Carter Mortimer

McKinley Park (pictured above) is one of the oldest parks in Tacoma. And, as it's right next to I-5, it provides easy access to an oasis of green in the middle of a heavily-developed area. It features lots of trees and wide trails, as well as a nice playground for kids. A few dozen volunteers joined us in 2019 to help improve trails for hikers in the park. 

Bainbridge Island Japanese Exclusion Memorial 2019 WTA Work Party by Doug

In the fall of 2019, we returned to Bainbridge Island and the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial for a youth and families work party. This was our second year working at the memorial to support restoration efforts in partnership with Northwest Youth Corps and the National Parks Conservation Association. Volunteers removed invasive plants, planted tress and designed horticultural displays. This project shows that sometimes trail work itself isn't the only thing green spaces need to thrive. 

LEARNING FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Girl Trek, WTA & USFS by Monika Derrien

WTA partnered with GirlTrek and the U.S. Forest Service in 2019 to learn more about what benefits people enjoy from walking outside and how to make it easier for more people to get out on trail. In October, we hiked together in Swan Creek Park in Tacoma where we discussed the different aspects of what people want to know about urban hikes, which varies widely from information that is relevant to backcountry hiking experiences. 

WTA & King County Field Tour by Britt Lê

As we developed The Trail Next Door, we spent time in the field with staff from King County Parks who work to acquire land and green spaces. They shared with us how they prioritize what land to buy that best serves the communities they work in. They hope to maximize the impact of new spaces by looking for properties that are in areas that are low income, have a higher-than-average rate of health disparities and where many people are within a 10-minute walk of the green space. We supported the King County Parks levy last year to help ensure the parks department has the resources it needs to do the important work of expanding access to nature and green spaces across the county.

see what else we're working on

From Mud to Magnificent: How WTA Helped Transform a Neighborhood Park

Mar 21, 2023

WTA, in partnership with other groups, helps transform the muddy trails in Whipple Creek Park into a neighborhood greenspace fit for year-round use by hikers, bikers, equestrians and more.

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WTA Loves Local Trails

Mar 13, 2023

Check out this roundup of local hike trip reports across the state from our February #LoveLocalTrails giveaway.

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How to Embrace a Beginner’s Mindset for New Outdoor Skills

Whether you’re expanding your outdoor skill repertoire, recently moved to Washington, or are new to the outdoors as a whole, these eight tips can help bolster your self-confidence, bring you closer to your companions and create space for maximum fun. By Linnea Johnson.

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Five Reasons to Take a Winter Hike Next Door

Feb 24, 2023

Winter hikes close to home offer new perspectives during the colder months.

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Hiker Headlines: Free Day, Mount Rainier Permits, Great Backyard Bird Count

Feb 16, 2023

Monday is Presidents Day, and parking fees in some areas will be waived. The Mount Rainier National Park early access reservation lottery opens on Feb. 21. Part of the Cowiche Canyon Preserve has been permanently closed. The Great Backyard Bird Count is this weekend. And, be prepared for snow this weekend.

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Why We Love Winter Trail Work

Feb 15, 2023

Trail work is a year-round endeavor for WTA. Winter lends itself to work on the Trails Next Door campaign, which focuses on trails close to urban communities. Joining a work party isn't just an opportunity to work on trails — it's a chance to build community.

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