SEATAC—
On a vast wooded area that sat empty for years, a mountain biking trail was built. That was 12 years ago. Since then those who love the park protect it with great passion.Cyclist Tony Lombardo says; "When I started riding I weighed about 260 pounds and last year at the height of my racing success was at 190 pounds... honestly it has changed by whole life as far as my health, fitness and well being."
But now the future of the park is threatened.
A sign on S. 208th Street announces plans to build a new regional jail for seven cities in south King County for misdemeanor crimes.
That could put an end to mountain bike races, but the the man who built and maintains the trails, sees what he calls a green opportunity, where everyone wins.
Mountain bike race sponsor "Wick" says; "What we're trying to do is take a negative, a jail, and make a positive and make a green space so the local community from the south end of Seattle has a place to come and run, ride their bike, hike."
Wick wants the area to be formally designated a permanent green space.
City leaders from Seatac and Des Moines visited the park Wednesday, on their bikes, to take a look.
Not counting the land on which the jail will sit, there are 65 usable acres in the park and a lot of interest in maintaining the trails, but it will take a lot of cooperation.
Wick says; "City of Seatac owns a portion of it. The DOT owns a part of it. Port of Seattle owns part of it and the City Of Des Monies owns part of it."
Des Moines City Manager Tony Piasecki says: "We can work with them see if we can't allow this to continue in some fashion. I think that would be a good thing for the community. I'm optimistic, yeah. I think we can work something out."
Cyclists like Cindy Freed hope so. Losing this park, she says, is unthinkable.
Cyclist Cindy Freed says; "I'm really going be heartbroken if they take it away from us. There's a lot of trails here, you could be out here for hours riding around and it's safe."
The Des Moines City Council will take a final vote on the jail, July 9th.
