JOHN DAY – Completion of the project may take several years, but under a plan presented by Mike Cosgrove at the Aug. 9 meeting of the John Day City Council, the area could soon have a series of connecting bicycle trails.

A committee was formed in May and was adopted as a subcommittee by the John Day/Canyon City Parks and Recreation Department.

“A group has been formed and we call the project the John Day Area Trails,” Cosgrove said. “We have 11 people who are really interested and we’ve submitted an application letter to the National Parks Service for assistance. We are just getting started and have begun working with the Seattle Branch of the National Parks Service to help develop the plan. What we would like is to have the support of the John Day City Council for the new project.”

The cities of Boise, Idaho, Baker City, Bend and Prineville have similar projects in the works or on the drawing boards, and there seems to be some real opportunities for John Day and the surrounding area to begin one as well, Cosgrove said.

Under phase one of the project, a comprehensive plan for trail construction would be developed. This activity would begin in the fall of 2005.

In the spring of 2006, phase two would begin. This phase would include developing a trail that would connect Humbolt Elementary School, Grant Union High School, the Kam Wah Chung State Park, the city pool, the Seventh Street Athletic Complex and the Grant County Fairgrounds, covering a distance of two-and-a-half miles.

Phase three of the project scheduled for 2007, would connect the phase one trail to the existing trail at the City of Mt. Vernon along the John Day River, covering a distance of six miles. This may also include a waterway trail.

“Dennis Bradley from Mt. Vernon has been working on a project to create a bike trail which would run from Mt. Vernon to Clyde Holliday State Park,” Cosgrove said. “It would be easy enough for us to connect with that trail.”

The final phase of the project would be to connect the phase one and two trails to a trail which would extend 13 miles along the John Day River to Prairie City.

The anticipated results when the project is completed would include 21 miles of multiuse trails along with six miles of waterway trail being opened.

Cosgrove said this would encourage tourists to lengthen their visits to the area and would enhance the community for future economic development.

“The project would also serve students and adults in the community in addition to tourists,” he said.

Cosgrove and his group received full support from the city council for the project.

“This is an excellent idea and you guys are to be commended for your work,” City Manager Peggy Carey said.

“I think this will be a real benefit to the community,” Mayor Bob Quinton said.

Anyone interested in assisting with the project or to request additional information can contact Cosgrove at Grant Union High School at 575-1799 or e-mail to (mcosgrove@grantesd.k12.or.us).