King County Parks Taylor Mountain Forest Trail Parking

King County Parks Taylor Mountain Forest – Trail & Parking Improvements NOVA #12 -1710 D October 2, 2012 Tina Miller, Project Manager Email: tina. miller@kingcounty. gov Tel: 206 -2990 Pierre La. Barge Email: Pierre. La. Barge@seattle. gov Tel: 206 -386 -1585

Project Introduction and Goals Goal #1: Improve accessibility and safety by constructing a major trailhead at Taylor Mt. Forest – 30 cars – 25 rigs w/ horse trailers – Serves 22 -mile network of multi-use, nonmotorized trails 3

Project Introduction and Goals Goal #2: Increase usability of key trails (Elk Ridge and Carey Creek) by improving trail conditions – Improves 6, 500 feet and relocates 2, 400 feet on watershed property – Addresses shared use – Designed to USFS standards 4

Regional Location Map 5

Site Location Map 6

Taylor Mountain Forest 7

Service Area Map 8

1. Public Need 9

1. Public Need: Recreational Use 10

1. Public Need: Inventory of Like Facilities Issaquah Alps Corridor 11

1. Public Need: Inventory of Like Facilities Equestrian Hiking Mountain biking 12

1. Public Need: Current Conditions • No formal parking lot • No trailhead amenities 13

1. Public Need: Current Conditions • Social-built trails, not to standard • Steep, muddy, poorly draining • SPU has no dedicated funding for trails 14

1. Public Need: Adopted Plan Taylor Mountain Public Use Plan and Trails Assessment • 2004 NOVA grant funded plan • Trails assessment • Recommendations • Set of CIPs • Multiuse trails • Public review and support • Trails committee 15

1. Public Need: Adopted Plan Summary of Taylor Mt. Trails Recommendations Completed Trails since Plan Adopted in Red Trail Loop/ Section Trail Name Trail Length (ft) Holder Creek Loop 1) Holder Ridge 4, 396 5. 9 miles 2) Holder Knob 15, 518 Use 0. 6 mile of road to connect loop 3) Holder Creek 7, 856 Holder Creek to Beaver Pond Carey Creek Loop Trail # Estimated Cost $ by staff/vol. Land Manager Primary Mgt. Objective (PMO) $35, 412 KC - DNRP Equestrian (E) $224, 656 KC - DNRP E 23 $184, 311 KC - DNRP 2, 222 22 $5, 915 E and Hiker(H) only E 1) Elk Ridge 7, 471 19 $60, 770 5. 6 miles 2) Sherwood 1, 636 13 Use 1. 6 miles of road to connect loop 3) Boot (new section) 3, 279 2, 746 4 and 18 25 4) Mt. Beaver 2, 985 5) Carey Creek 9, 144 Carey Creek Connector 2, 967 CLC E and H only $25, 848 City of Seattle KC - DNRP $4, 280 $21, 607 KC - DNRP E E $53, 905 KC - DNRP E 11 $72, 768 E and H only 26 $21, 205 KC - DNRP City of Seattle KC - DNRP E and H only E 16

1. Public Need: Adopted Plan • King County Open Space Plan (2010) • Parks Business Transition Plan (2002) • King County Comprehensive Plan (2008) 17

1. Public Need: Adopted Plan • Consistent with SCORP • Hiking/walking and nature consistently top -ranked recreation 18

2. Need Fulfillment 19

2. Need Fulfillment Goal #1: Improve accessibility and safety by constructing a major trailhead at Taylor Mt. Forest ü Construct lot for 30 cars ü Construct lot for 25 rigs w/ horse trailers ü Include ADA stalls ü Install trailhead amenities (kiosk, restroom) ü Meets goals of Public Use Plan: #1 trailhead recommendation 20

2. Need Fulfillment 21

2. Need Fulfillment Goal #2: Increase usability of key trails (Elk Ridge and Carey Creek) by improving trail conditions and making loop connection ü Improves 6, 500 ft of trail ü Relocates 2, 400 ft ü Bring trails up to USFS standards ü Meets goals of Public Use Plan: #3 trail recommendation ü Help spread out intensive use of Issaquah Alps 22

3 b. Project Design 23

To tra ils 3 b. Project Design: Parking Lot 24

3 b. Project Design: Parking Lot Examples: Cougar Mountain Kathryn Taylor Equestrian Park Soaring Eagle Park 25

3 b. Project Design: Parking Lot Examples of Proposed Amenities Informational kiosk CXT Toilet / ADA parking Hitching posts 26

3 b. Project Design: Trails Improvements: • 6, 500 ft of trail • 475 ft of turnpike • 32 drainage structures • 600 ft of surfacing 27

3 b. Project Design: Trails ü Planning and design address shared use for equestrians, hikers ü Designed to USFS standards (width, grade, passing) ü Improved stream crossing with reduce water quality impacts Elk Ridge Trail current conditions ü Easier to maintain in long term ü Longer loop trail provides recreational experience preferred by equestrians Example - improved trail conditions 28

4. Readiness to Proceed 29

4. Readiness to Proceed Date July 2013 Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Task Grant awarded Trail construction (volunteer commitments from WTA, BCH) Summer 2014 Parking lot construction (phased to allow some parking on site during construction) September 2014 Project complete 30

4. Readiness to Proceed ü In-house design and build ü Permitting • King County Parks staff will implement project • Parking lot design ready for permitting within 60 days of receiving grant • Programmatic permit for backcountry trails (existing) ü Use agreement • SPU and King County Parks will have agreement in place by March 2013 31

5. Natural Setting 32

5. Natural Setting • 1, 844 acres, 22 miles of trails • Part of 50, 000 -acre forest ecosystem (Taylor, Tiger Mtn, Cedar River Watershed) • Sweeping views of Mt Rainier • No urban sites or sounds 33

6. Project Support 34

6. Project Support Washington Trails Assn volunteer labor Tahoma Backcountry Horsemen volunteer labor, cash donation Seattle Public Utilities Staff support, use agreement 35

6. Project Support Talk about public involvement and planning process • User groups involved with 2004 planning effort are still involved with implementation Sustained involvement… 36

7. Cost-Benefit 37

7. Cost Benefit ü Expands access and recreational opportunities, especially of underserved user group ü Spreads out intensive use of Issaquah Alps corridor ü Implements items identified in public access plan ü Coordinates among agencies for cohesive trails system ü Budget based upon recent experience at other sites 38

7. Cost Benefit ü Cost per mile estimated at $3, 450 ü Leverages agency resources, donated labor ü Matched with $35, 000 in volunteer labor ü Continued commitment to stewardship by user groups 39

Thank you! Taylor Mountain Forest Trail & Parking Improvements NOVA #12 -1710 D 40