The Five Mile Prarie Loop Trail
The proposed FMP Loop Trail would be about 9 miles long and go all the way around the steep upper slopes of FMP through a rim of land that probably won't be developed because it is too steep and/or rocky. On the north side it would actually incorporate part of the existing trail through the Little Spokane River Natural Area above St. George's School. I've spoken with Rene' Wiley, the Riverside S. P. superintendent, and she approves of the idea.
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In scouting out a possible route I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are segments of human-made or deer trails scattered all the way around FMP that already account for nearly half of the proposed route. These just need to be connected.
The other pleasant surprise was that there are some strategically located parcels of public lands - either State, County or City - along the route such as the LSRNA mentioned above. Others are Conservation Futures purchased land such as the Holmberg C.A. on the NE side, and City and County Water Dept lands.
However, most of the land - about 80% - is private property associated with individual homes where the home sits at either the top of the bluff or the base of the steep slope, but the lot extends far down or up the slope. Although a few narrow spots exist, in the vast majority of cases there is ample room for a trail to pass through without hikers or bicyclists being seen or heard by those homeowners. Of course, we will have to approach all these private landowners to negotiate legal easements for the trail to cross their property. That is major hurdle and may take many years to accomplish because there are over a hundred such owners.
The trail would be a single track dirt trail except for 2 relatively short segments where it would have to use existing public residential streets. Only hikers and mountain bikers would be allowed to use the trail except in the LSRNA where bikes are not allowed. In other words, No horses or motorized vehicles.
Five Mile Prarie Neighborhood Association
Robert Strong
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