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What else happened 30 years ago this year, besides the ignominous resignation of Richard Nixon?? If you guessed that the first sections of the now legendary Burke-Gilman Trail were opened, you'd be right. It's time to celebrate the region's most famous 'multi-use path' as it reaches its thirtieth birthday. Please attend and let the Mayor and others know that our support for completion of the trail is as strong as ever! It is advocacy like this that gets projects completed.

Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail are working with the Cascade Bicycle Club, Bicycle Alliance of Washington, and the City of Seattle to create and celebrate Burke-Gilman Trail Day on Saturday September 18th. The focus of the day's event will be the groundbreaking ceremony for the newest section of trail, from the Chittenden Locks to NW 60th Street, in Ballard. Attending will be Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, other city, local, and regional politicians and officials, and trail supporters far and wide>

While some details are not yet finalized, the groundbreaking will take place at a suitable location near the Locks. We anticipate having participants gather (time to be determined) at the Ballard Fred Meyer (11th Ave. NW and NW 45th St) and bike, walk, run, or skate en masse to the event. Or you can simply meet us at the groundbreaking. Stay tuned to next month's issue of the Courier for planned CBC rides with participants joining in at several locations, including Tracy Owen Station (North end of Lake Washington), Richmond Beach, and Gasworks Park.

So why all the hoopla for this event, and just how did the trail get started? The concept originated with a citizens group called the Burke Gilman Trail Park Committee that formed in late 1970 after learning that Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) was going to abandon the spur line. Between 1971 and 1973 the city negotiated with BN resulting in the city acquiring the right-of-way. The rails and ties were removed between October 1973 and February 1974 and the trail was then opened for limited interim use. In the summer of 1974, the city paved the first section of trail between Latona N and Pasadena NE. While only about four blocks long, it represents the first section of trail construction. The construction of the trail between Kenmore and Gas Works was completed in 1978 and the official dedication was on August 19, 1978. Since then, short sections have been completed bit by bit, inching toward the ultimate goal of a separated trail extending from Golden Gardens park in Ballard to Kenmore, and points beyond.

With the Seattle City Council's April, 2003 approval of Nickels' plan for the permanent and interim route for the trail through Ballard, a decision supported by Cascade and trail advocates, the 'Missing Link' sections of trail, in limbo since the late 1990s, have been authorized. Funding of the section to be constructed this fall after the groundbreaking was approved in 1997-trail supporters must show that we don't want to wait another 7 years (or 30!) to have all the sections completed.

We hope you can join us on September 18th to celebrate this tremendous community asset as it moves one step closer to reality. For more information, check Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail website, www.burkegilmantrail.org, and look for more detailed information in next month's Cascade Courier.