King County will hold an open house on East Lake Sammamish Trail facilities

King County is holding an open house to present proposed parking, trail access and sani-can locations along the East Lake Sammamish Trail. The public is invited to see proposed sites and share their ideas for locations. The open house will be held Wednesday, July 20, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Pine Lake Covenant Church gymnasium, 1715-228th Ave. S.E., in Sammamish.

Display boards will provide an overview of design features of the trail, as well as what to expect during construction of the trail. Cards will be available to write down specific questions that will be followed up by project staff.

King County recently obtained all necessary permits to begin construction of the East Lake Sammamish Trail. In all, nine permits were obtained ensuring it will build the trail in an environmentally sensitive manner.

King County is in the final stages of hiring a contractor to prepare the interim trail. A special appreciation and groundbreaking ceremony is planned for Saturday, July 30, 10 a.m. at ballfield 8 in Marymoor Park. Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to walk or bike 1.5 miles to where the trail intersects 187th Ave. NE for the groundbreaking. The interim trail is not appropriate for thin-tired road bikes.

The final interim trail will be constructed of five-eighths minus gravel and will not be appropriate for thin tired racing bikes or inline skates. The final paved trail will be constructed when a master plan is adopted by the King County Council and all relevant permits obtained. The Master Plan is expected to be submitted to council early in 2006.

The East Lake Sammamish Trail extends 11 miles south from the Sammamish River Trail Issaquah, WA. This will establish a 50 mile long continuous non-motorized route from Ballard in the City Seattle to Issaquah.