Sunday Trailways celebrates new part of regional pathway

For the debut of the Sunday Trailways event, the late June weather did its usual pre-July 4 dance between early spring cloudy-cool and early summer blue-skied warmth.

Fortunately, there was enough of the latter on Sunday afternoon to transform the newly expanded Fanno Creek Trail into a festive, educational ribbon of activity as the event and day progressed.

Organized by the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, Sunday Trailways was a celebration of the district's trail system. The district invited area residents and visitors to bike or stroll part or the entire 4.5-mile trail that snakes its way along Fanno Creek from South Beaverton to Garden Home.

At various points along the route, participants took in entertainment from the Radio Disney Road Crew, down-home jug band music from Portland-based band Trashcan Joe, children's games, wildlife education and historical demonstrations, among other

offerings.

Ed Henson took a break from the trail at Greenway Park with his wife, Rachel, and their children, Cody, 8, and Joey, 5. He said seeing the trail come alive in early summer reminded him why his family lives in the Greenway area.

"This is a great event. One of the reasons we bought our house nearby was because of access to this trail network," he said. "I think (Sunday Trailways) is a great idea, and I like that they're bringing all the trail networks together."

Cody and Joey Henson were among the children and adults fascinated by an 8-year-old snapping turtle, one of the wildlife offerings park district Ranger Kyle Spinks and Amanda Frankel, a member of the district's education staff, presented at Greenway Park.

As the unnamed turtle clambered unsuccessfully to reach the top of her temporary plastic container, Spinks said he wasn't surprised the exhibit - which also included various animal pelts, tadpoles and other slimy creatures - stopped many youngsters in their tracks on Sunday.

"People aren't used to seeing turtles," he said, noting the reptile's age is determined by the number of rings around her shell. "It's a great opportunity for us to educate and teach about wildlife."

The Trailways event got under way with a dedication of the new trail segment between Scholls Ferry Road and 105th Avenue. That and last week's park district Board of Director's decision to choose a signal-crossing option at Hall Boulevard near Greenway Drive means Fanno Creek Trail is closer than ever to becoming a continuous connector for pedestrians, bicyclists and nature lovers with a minimal amount of interference from vehicular traffic.

At a cost estimated at $400,000, the crossing project - chosen instead of bridge or tunnel options - would add a pedestrian- and bicyclist-activated crossing signal coordinated with the vehicular signals at Greenway Drive, along with a crosswalk. If other agencies approve that plan, then a pedestrian-friendly crossing at Denney Road is the final piece of the trail puzzle, said Bob Wayt, district spokesman.

As they took in the sights, sounds and activity along Fanno Creek on Sunday, Mandi MacAskill and her husband, Calum, said their children, Ruaridh and Eilidh, enjoyed what the Trailways event added to the natural surroundings.

"It's good," she said. "It's something more interesting for the kids as they're cycling along. It gives them something to look at."

Calum, who moved with his family from their native Scotland, said they would take in as much of the Fanno Creek Trail as they could.

"We'll go as far as their legs will carry them," he said, gesturing to the children on their bikes.

And compared to Scotland, Sunday's intermittent sunshine seemed positively summery to the MacAskills.

"If it weren't for this (event), we might never have been on this stretch - and it's not even raining," Calum said with a broad smile.

Sarah Makela, who moved from her native Detroit, Mich., to Beaverton's Vose neighborhood a little more than two years ago, was on the way to the library with her three children Sunday when the family started to notice there was more going on than usual on the Fanno Creek Trail.

"This is the way we usually go (to the library), but we stopped when we saw there was fun and music taking place," she said, adding with a laugh, "we might not make it to the library."