Jim Price Memorial Celebration. On Saturday, May 23, 11AM, Newcastle will celebrate the installation of a memorial to Jim Price, a founder of Newcastle, the local Chamber of Commerce, the Newcastle Arts Council, and Newcastle Trails. The ceremony will take place at the memorial site in Lake Boren Park, the trail junction where folks walking north from the main parking lot turn right to reach the Lake Boren Boardwalk. After a short ceremony, we’ll gather for light refreshments and fellowship at the lower picnic shelter by the pickleball courts.
Jim’s contributions to Newcastle extended far beyond his role as a founder. For many years, he served Newcastle Trails as vice president and Chamber liaison. He was also actively involved with the Newcastle Historical Society. His work as a real estate appraiser led to worldwide honors and friendships. He was a community builder who brought folks together, and a family man who loved sailing, hiking, and pickleball. At the time of his passing in 2018 he was serving on the Community Activities Commission.
A Memorial Committee was formed, but the memorial had to wait until the boardwalk was built and the irrigation removed. The stone was supplied and engraved by Marenakos Rock Center, installed by the City (Brendan Hutchinson, Connor Simonson and his crew), and funded by donations from many groups and individuals. Committee members were:
Garry Kampen (Committee Chair; President, Newcastle Trails)
Karin Blakley (Past President, Greater Newcastle Chamber of Commerce)
Ed Flash (President, Newcastle Arts Council)
Kari Haas (Newcastle Arts Council)
Russ Segner (President, Newcastle Historical Society)
Kim Van Atta (Community Activities Commission)
Giles Velte (Newcastle Trails)
Others contributed, including Jim’s wife Peggy, the Price family, and Carol Simpson. Like Jim, all those named have served Newcastle in various capacities, for years. Peggy’s years of trail-building may have set a record: about 5,400 hours on the East CrossTown Trail alone – with Scouts and other volunteers adding 4,450 more. All while Peggy served Newcastle Trails as treasurer, volunteer coordinator, and general factotum. (The hours for all direct trail work done and supervised by Newcastle Trails total about 22,100.)
CrossTown Trail Projects
The CrossTown Trail is Newcastle’s longest trail. It runs 3.7 miles from Risdon school on the Bellevue boundary through central Newcastle into Cougar Mountain Park, mostly nature trail, with a few sidewalks. The West CrossTown Trail starts in woodland at the school, and continues via Hazelwood, Donegal, and Lake Boren parks to Coal Creek Parkway, using two boardwalks. The East CrossTown Trail follows the slope of a wooded ridge into Cougar Mountain Park. Finish work is nearly completed for the upper half of this trail (see photos below), and has begun for the lower half.
The CrossTown Trail boardwalk in Hazelwood Park was built by King County before 1994, when Newcastle was founded. This summer, the City will replace that boardwalk of 30+ years with a wider, stronger version. Two more projects are planned further west: steps and short switchbacks to replace a steep slope; a new access trail for the historic Newcastle cemetery. On the East CrossTown Trail, the City has cut back a boulder that has caused problems for years.
Horse Trail
The Horse Trail is now open for walkers on the switchback route south from the 84th Street Trail to May Creek Park Drive (a few feet near the road are steep). The City will soon request bids to construct this section to permanent trail standards. Be careful to keep pets from collapsing drainage tunnels (marked with blue flags).
New Trail Map
The NT Trail Map has been updated to show the Horse Trail as a walkable route. It also shows the Thomas Rouse Trail as walkable, with the newest (sidewalk) section on 136th Ave SE, a historic road flanked by trees. Here new trail signs are desirable – and perhaps a crosswalk near Newcastle Golf Club Road. Note that the street grid is old and doesn’t include the roundabout on May Creek Park Drive with SE 84th Place coming into it from the northwest. SE 84th Place sidewalks connect the Sylvan Trail and Horse Trail. If anybody you know could revise our map using the City’s up-to-date street layer, we’d love to have you contact us at info@NewcastleTrails.org.
Parks Planner
The key to the projects above (and others), is Brendan Hutchins, Newcastle’s Parks and Trails Planner. He arranged for the new Terrace Trail steps, and he’ll contract for the finish work on the Horse Trail. Those who work closely with him think he’s the best we’ve had in that position. Considering the value of his work, and the multiplier effect of all the volunteer hours it facilitates, this Planner position should always be fully funded and immune to cuts.
In a perfect world, Newcastle would have a Parks Department, a Parks Commission, and a volunteer parks group (Friends of Lake Boren Park?), all working together. In their absence, a Parks and Trails Planner is essential.
