Standard-Examiner SERVING THE TOP OF UTAH SINCE 1888 Scott Trundle, Publisher | Don Porter, Editorial Page Editor | Ron Thornburg, Mana May 25, 2001 Pathways make cities better places to live The Top of Utah leads the Beehive State in development of trail systems Top of Utah communities care about trails. That much was evident at a recent meeting convened by Weber Pathways, an organization committed to the promotion and development of trails and walkable areas in Weber County. In early May, interested city planners, city council members and volunteers from various Weber communities -Marriott-Slaterville, Liberty/Nordic Valley, West Haven, Roy, Huntsville, Ogden, Riverdale, South Ogden and West Weber - met in the county commission chambers for an overview of ways to create and improve urban trails. Some day, we may look back on the meeting and describe it as a watershed event in the history of trail development in our region, since committed recreation supporters from the various cities and towns learned from represenatives of Envision Utah, the Division of Wildlife Resources and the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCAP) that not only are urban pathways desirable, but there are resources available to help communities make them a reality. Indeed, the RTCAP for the multi-state region that includes Utah is based in Denver. But since the lion's share of requests being made to the Denver office were coming from Utah, the park service opened an office in Salt Lake City a year ago. The federal program provides all sorts of information and support for communities trying to improve their appearance and opportunities for recreation. Currently, the RTCAP is helping to create a master plan for trails in the Ogden Valley. And Envision Utah, which has already helped countless city planners and developers make wiser choices when it comes to growth in Utah, presented a slide show of residential neighborhoods and business parks that have incorporated greenways and walking paths into their designs to enhance the value of hours spent at work and at home. There are many untapped resources for cities to help fund such projects - the U.S. Transportation and Interior departments offer grants, and so do various private foundations involved in open land preservation and the welfare of children and families. Weber County is fortunate to have had some 4,000 volunteers creating and maintaining its miles and miles of trails over the past few decades. Its system, which continues to expand and improve, is unmatched throughout the state - a model for other counties in the Top of Utah. And the ideas don't begin and end with non-motorized trails and equestrian paths; innovations like the Weber River kayak park only reinforce the level of cooperation being achieved between public and private entities. We urge cities throughout Weber, Davis, Box Elder, Morgan and Cache counties to use the resources available for making their communities more unique, more appealing, more enjoyable to live in. It's all there for the asking. 59