January 16, 2002 (Cont'd) Weber River, then upstream along the Weber to the mouth of Weber Canyon. From there, the trail would be linked with the existing Bonneville Shoreline Trail on Ogden's East Bench. The federal money would be used to acquire property or easements across private property, and to construct a number of footbridges across the river. It would also help pay for a number of parks and picnic areas along the river. There are plans to enhance the river itself, creating more habitat for fish and more places for kayaks, canoes and rafts to use the stream. "The idea is to have parks and attractions all along the river," Hulet said. "We call them the pearls on the necklace of the Weber River." Half done, half to go Roughly half of the trail is already completed. Completed segments include the Bonneville Shoreline Trail from the mouth of Ogden Canyon to about Burch Creek Canyon, the Ogden City Parkway from the mouth of Ogden Canyon to about Monroe Boulevard, and a section of the Riverdale Parkway along the Weber River. Whether Hansen's political clout as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee will be enough to elicit that much money from the federal coffers remains to be seen, however. "Let's put it this way," Dunn said. "We've got him for one more year, and he's chairman of one of the most powerful committees in Washington. But the problem, at the same time, is sometimes the Senate has a rough time bringing these things up to a vote." Dunn said Hansen has asked local officials for a comprehensive report on the project by the end of March. After that, Hansen will decide the best way to shepherd the proposal through Congress. Ogden's commitment Whatever money Hansen raises will supplement funds that have already been committed to the parkway project. Pending approval by the Ogden City Council, Ogden will commit about $660,000 to work on the trail over the next two years, Pierce said. That money will be matched by a grant from the federal Land and Conservation Fund Act, for a total of about $1.3 million, he said. If the city council approves, Ogden will begin work this spring on an underpass beneath Washington Boulevard, and other trail improvements between Washington Boulevard and Wall Avenue, Pierce said. In 2003, the city would build another underpass beneath Wall Avenue, he said. The city is also negotiating with the Union Pacific Railroad to obtain property between Wall Avenue and the 21st Street Pond, he said. Other communities The project involves several Weber County communities. Sections of the trail pass through Riverdale, Uintah, West Haven and South Ogden, as well as Ogden. In addition, Marriott-Slaterville has proposed a western extension of the trail, and both Washington Terrace and South Ogden have discussed building trails that would link up with the Centennial Trail at the Weber River. It also involves the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the Utah Department of Transportation, the Division of Parks and Recreation and other state and local agencies. "We're promoting the use of the pathway as a community, in the larger sense," Hulet said. "If people are riding or walking on it, it promotes a sense of ownership, and it becomes theirs." 21