The following is and op-ed piece from the Idaho Statesman.

Let’s work together to improve the valley’s future
April 25th, 2009

By Steve Stuebner

Valley County Pathways, a group working to create a series of public pathways between McCall and Cascade, is gaining momentum.

We recently received a property donation south of McCall along the old railroad right of way from the Whiteman family, which adds value to an existing access agreement with Idaho Power, and we’ve developed a new trailhead on the north end of the Crown Point Rail-Trail near Cascade.

It’s unfortunate that Tamarack Resort has gone into bankruptcy and has shut down until a new buyer can be found. But in my opinion, it’d be great if Valley County citizens can work on shoring up and building on the resources we have to improve our community. The recent cash gift for the Cascade Whitewater Park, and the work by energetic volunteers and the city of Cascade to make this project a reality, is a classic example.

Most of us have no control over what happens to Tamarack. But we can put our energy into projects that will add value to the community in the long-term.

Valley County Pathways is working to create a 25-mile rail-trail from Cascade to McCall, and someday we hope to develop other pathways in our master plan, including a trail around Payette Lake and Lake Cascade. Once realized, these projects will add to the vitality of the recreation scene, and lead to further economic development.

If this is something of interest to you, consider getting involved. Right now, we need some worker-bee volunteers in the following areas:

* Membership
* Our web site
* Monitoring planning and zoning meetings
* Fundraising and grant-writing

Pathways has a nine-member board of directors. Three of our longtime board members have moved on – one died of cancer, one has retired and another one is working on other interests.

In the coming year, we will work on trail-development on the railroad right of way south of McCall, building a new trail in Donnelly, holding a fund-raiser, and developing a pathways master plan for the city of Cascade.

If you have an interest in getting involved, please contact me, Steve Stuebner, Pathways President, sstuebner@cableone.net, or 208-484-0295. For more information, go to www.valleycountypathways.org.

Valley County Pathways needs volunteers in the following areas:

• Membership
• Monitoring planning and zoning meetings
• Fundraising and grant-writing

Please read this post for more information on our immediate needs.

More photos from the Trail Dedication Event

Cascade Mayor Dick Carter linked Pathways efforts with a future whitewater
park and pathway system from the North Bridge to the South Bridge in the city
of Cascade. “Now all we’ve got to do is be creative and find a way to link
up the river trail with this trail,” he said. “I can envision something pretty
spectacular, like a bridge over the highway that people would come from
miles away to see and experience.”

Pathways Chairman Steve Stuebner
explains the long-range vision of the
county-approved pathways master plan.

Valley County Commissioner Frank Eld
thanked the Putman Family and the Pathways Group
for working together for the common good.

A great crowd, including the Putman Family, walkers and bikers, elected officials and Pathways Board
Members took part in the Trail Dedication Ceremony.

Whiteman family donates land to Valley County Pathways; Lake Irrigation District inks access agreement

Marvin and Carol Whiteman have donated a 1.7-acre strategic parcel of railroad right of way property south of McCall to Valley County Pathways, Inc., allowing the Pathways group to provide new public access to several miles of trail between McCall and Heinrich Lane.

Your browser may not support display of this image.Valley County Pathways also recently signed an access agreement with Lake Irrigation District, south of the Whiteman property. The two land transactions, combined with an existing long-term access agreement with Idaho Power Co., provide a continuous pathway corridor along the old Union Pacific Railroad Right of Way between Moonridge Drive and Heinrich Lane, a distance of about four miles.

The pathway corridor is being managed as a non-motorized, four-season trail open to cross-country skiing and snow shoeing in the winter, and hiking, biking, running and horseback riding in the summer.

“We really want to thank Marv and Carol Whiteman for their generous property donation. This was private land that could have been sold as a home site, so it’s great to have it in public ownership to preserve the pathway corridor along the old railroad right of way,” said Steve Stuebner, president of Valley County Pathways.

“We also want to thank Lake Irrigation District for working with us on an access agreement,” Stuebner said. “This allows Pathways to manage the district’s land along the RR ROW as a recreation trail. We are expecting to work on a new trail bypass project next summer.”

Your browser may not support display of this image.

Marvin Whiteman, now retired, ran a successful business in Boise for many years, plus he was a partner in the development of several McCall residential developments – Payette River Subdivision #1, #2 and #3, Aspen Ridge #1, #2 and #3, and Moonridge #1 and #2.

“Steve explained the vision of Valley County Pathways to me, and Carol and I felt that it would be appropriate to donate our property along the trail to the Pathways group so they can continue to work toward their goal of building a trail from McCall to Cascade,” Marvin Whiteman said.

Big news! Valley County Pathways has opened up about four miles of the old railroad right of way, south of McCall, to Heinrich Lane, just one mile north of Lake Fork.

Here are some photos of the news section of trail as well as a map showing how to access the rail-trail south of McCall:

[View with PicLens]

They are beautiful and fun to walk, bike or ride on horseback. The trail is closed to all motorized vehicles, winter and summer, as per agreements with private property owners.

Otherwise, enjoy riding the rail-trail. If you’re on a bike, consider lengthening your trip by riding a loop: Take the RR ROW from McCall to Heinrich Lane, then turn left on Heinrich and go right on Norwood to Lake Fork Road. Go left and follow Lake Fork Road over to Idaho 55. Cross the highway and ride back to McCall via Farm to Market Road and Samson Trail or Elo Road.

Check out this Channel 7 news clip.