Walking enthusiasts have had a dream since the early 1980s to build a network of walking paths starting in the Nisqually delta and snaking its way through Puyallup, Sumner and Orting, eventually ending at the Mount Rainier National Park. After more than 20 years, the dream is coming closer. Seventeen miles of walking path have been built from near the Van Lierops tulip fields on the outskirts of Puyallup to South Prairie. There’s a two-mile stretch in Buckley and 3,000 feet in Wilkeson. Sumner is set up to be a pivotal walking destination. Once the Sumner hub is completed, walkers can either head toward South Center Mall, Mount Rainier or Point Defiance Park. But, like any project that spans decades, multiple jurisdictions and land owners reluctant to sell their property, there have been bumps in the path. For example, there’s no way to get to Wilkeson yet without hopping in a car. And Buckley has been waiting for more than a decade to be linked with the rest of the trail. The walking path ends in Puyallup but doesn’t meet up with the city’s Riverwalk trail that has been constructed in recent years. These problems should be resolved soon. At one point in time, there was a plan to connect Puyallup with Tacoma but that’s become fuzzy. It’s disappointing to see that despite Puyallup’s great strides, the city still plays a part in the delay of that dream. Streets and sidewalks currently link two portions of the Riverwalk path and though there are plans to create a legitimate walking trail in the future, it’s not part of the five-year budget. With things like street improvements and sewer problems, it’s tough not to see the city’s logic. In the meantime, though, there’s nothing stopping residents from slipping into a pair of comfortable walking shoes to show community leaders they expect them to finish these trails. Or, better yet, citizens can get involved and help make this dream come true.
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