Dockton bike trails move ahead, construction to begin soon

Published 12:29 pm Tuesday, February 2, 2016

King County Parks and the Vashon Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) on Thursday night presented final recommendations for the Dockton Forest Mountain Bike Trail Project, setting in motion the process to begin construction on the trails.

“We just have to finalize our agreement with the mountain bikers, dot the Is and cross the Ts,” King County Parks’ David Kimmett said of the grant-funded project. “Hopefully by spring, that is our hope (to have trails being built). Everything is in place. It’s just details now.”

The open house at McMurray Middle School served as a final chance for the public to review and make suggestions  about the project, recommend names for the new bike trails and see trail markers and instructional signs that will be posted throughout the area. The signs on display Thursday focused on trail courtesy and yielding to horses. The island equestrian community voiced concerns at previous meetings about right-of-way issues and running into bike riders on the trails.

Between 20 to 30 people arrived over the course of two hours. Some asked questions of Kimmett and Jenny Devlin, others merely walked through and departed.

This was the county’s third outreach to the Vashon community about the trails that are being funded through the county’s Community Partnerships and Grants Program. The three-phase project will begin with Phase 1: Two loops of mountain bike trails, each just over one mile around, will be constructed on 40 acres of forest on the south side of SW 260th Street.

VMBA’s members will provide volunteer labor and will work with the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance to build the trails. New signage and a new “central hub” will be added to provide information to forest users about the trails.

Those wishing to receive text updates about the project can text “King DocktonTrails” to 468311.