Events celebrate progress on Centennial Trail

SNOHOMISH — The lively past and promising future of the Centennial Trail are set to receive their due this morning with two separate events.

A signing ceremony for Snohomish County’s purchase agreement for nearly 12 miles of rail corridor is scheduled at 9 a.m. in Snohomish. The new segment would extend the trail south to Woodinville.

An hour later, government leaders, cyclists and others plan to gather about five miles north at the trail head in Machias. There, they’ll unveil new program called PASTforward that promotes the Centennial Trail through interpretive signs and a website.

“It’s really an exciting opportunity,” county parks director Tom Teigen said of the trail addition. “This is going to be rails and trail.”

Freight trains use the Woodinville-Snohomish leg now. New, parallel recreation trails likely will take a while to build out, with design work alone expected to last at least a couple of years, Teigen said.

Snohomish County already considers the Centennial Trail its largest park. As is, it gives bikers, walkers and horse-back riders a largely unobstructed ribbon of asphalt that travels 29 miles from the Skagit County line to downtown Snohomish.

Once it reaches Woodinville, the Centennial Trail would connect to King County’s extensive trail system, which leads to Ballard, Lake Sammamish and points south.

Last year, the County Council authorized $5 million in conservation futures grants to buy the Snohomish-to-Woodinville addition. Conservation futures money is collected from property taxes to preserve open space and parks. The real estate transaction likely won’t be finalized until this spring.

The railway section in Snohomish County is among the last pieces of old rail line the Port of Seattle still owns from its 2009 purchase of the East Side Rail Corridor. The Port paid Burlington Northern Santa Fe $81 million for 42 miles of track and right of way. The original sale included the line from Snohomish south to Renton, with a spur to Redmond.

The East Side Rail Corridor started in the 1880s, but had dwindled to minimal freight use by the time BNSF sold it.

PASTforward highlights the trail’s landmarks, past and present. It includes signs at trail heads, in Machias and elsewhere, plus a new website, www.centennialtrail.com.

To carry out the work, the county used a $99,000 grant awarded by Washington’s Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation.

Separately, the county is using a graphics-wrapped Smart car to promote the Centennial Trail and its history. The plan is to park the car at high-profile sites and festivals.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

Events today

9 to 9:45 a.m. —Signing ceremony near the south end of the Centennial Trail, 504 4th St., Snohomish.

10 to 11 a.m. — PASTforward program unveiling, Machias Trailhead, 1624 Virginia St., Snohomish.

More info: http://on.fb.me/1khpuog, www.centennialtrail.com or call 425-388-3186.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.