Grand Ridge/Mitchell Hill Preliminary Trailhead Proposal

Grand Ridge/Mitchell Hill Preliminary Trailhead Proposal

September 27, 2012

• Provide information abut preliminary trailhead facility proposal for Grand Ridge Park and Mitchell Hill Forest

• Present overview of the proposed Grand Ridge/Mitchell Hill Forest trail/trailhead planning process

• Answer questions from the public

• Provide opportunity for public comments

Purpose of Meeting

What supports the need for a new trailhead?

• Shortage of facilities to serve Grand Ridge Mitchell Hill Forest corridor

• 2001 Grand Ridge Park Site Management

Plan recommends development of additional trailheads

• Both the Parks Levy Task Force and 2008 Open Space Plan call for increased access/parking to serve open space lands

• Future trail planning/development at

Mitchell Hill Forest will likely trigger demand for parking

Current Parking Available

• Duthie Hill ~20 stalls• Central Park ~50

stalls• High Point ~12

stalls

Parking Possibilities/Potential

Future TrailConnectionsShared use trails connecting to other King County Parks sites

Trail connections from King County lands to Washington DNR lands

Meet growing demand for recreational trail use in the greater Seattle area

Why the 280th Drive SE location?• It would serve a portion of Grand

Ridge/Mitchell Hill corridor that currently has no facilities

• It is located near an existing backcountry trail

• It is served by a public road

• It has potential to reduce trespass of private road

• Existing development on the site reduces costs of construction

Trailhead Proposal• Parking for 5-7 vehicles, two horse

trailers • Small picnic shelter (reuse of barn) • Restroom Facilities • Waste Receptacles • Interpretive/Rule Signage

Current condition of 280th Drive SE

• Local access road tht functions as a neighborhood collector

• Varies in width from 14 to 16 feet

What road improvements may be required?

• Significant improvements will not likely be required due to parking capacity and anticipated levels of use

• Improvements of the frontage along the trailhead properties would likely be required

• Widening of midpoint of 280th Drive SE would allow for safer passing of traffic and improve sight lines

• Eastside (uphill lane) appears most feasible

to widen

Questions/CommentsThank you for your interest and

participation in trail/trailhead planning for the Grand Ridge/Mitchell Hill Corridor

You may submit your comments in the box provided for this purpose