The gig long-awaited day was May 19th when public officials and trail supporters gathered in South Prairie for a joyous occasion – the Pierce County Parks & Recreation dedication for the newly completed “missing link” between South Prairie and Buckley. It took a village to make it happen: Funding partners included Pierce County; Federal highways Administration; Washington Department of Transportation; Puget Sound Regional Council; Rural Town Centers and Corridors Gran’ Washington Recreation and Conservation Office WWRP trail grant; and matching donations from the Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition; Puyallup Watershed Initiative Active Transportation Community of Interest; and towns of Buckley and South Prairie.
There are plans to add yet more miles to the trail and connect with Tacoma and King County. We want to see a full network of trails connecting Pierce County communities. Ultimately, we hope for a trail to Mount Rainier National Park to Commencement Bay – a fabulous Mountain to Sound Trail, or “Tahoma to Tacoma” if you prefer,