Sisters Community trails plan completed

The public is invited to join with members of the Sisters Community Trails Committee to celebrate the completion of the final community trails plan on Saturday, November 8, at 10 a.m.

They are calling it: "Discover a Trail Day" and it starts at the Village Green.

"We'll begin with a half-hour program giving an overview of the Community Trails Plan and then break out in guided hikes and bike rides to see some of that which we propose," said James Yuskavitch in a news release sent out from the SOAR office (Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation).

Bike riders, hikers and committee members will then return to Village Green where sandwiches and beverages will be served and individuals will get a chance to talk one-on-one with members of the Sisters Community Trails Committee.

The trails committee is made up of residents from the Sisters area who have been working for two years to develop a plan for a network of non-motorized commuter and recreational trails within an area defined by the Sisters School District.

The first trail planned is to connect the Tollgate residential area with the new high school, middle school and the soon to be completed SOAR building off recently opened McKinney Butte Road.

The path material proposed for this trail is compact gravel, similar to that which is on the bike path in Camp Sherman, or possibly asphalt.

It is to be a biking/hiking trail running about 3/4-mile, wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side comfortably.

"These trails will allow Sisters area residents to travel by foot, bike, horse and other non-motorized modes between their neighborhood (and) school, town and surrounding public lands," according to the committee release.

The trailhead kiosks will have colorful artwork with maps and other local information. One of the wooden signboards will be on display at Village Green during the community event near the barbecue area on the south side of the park.

One of the bike rides planned for that day will be along the Peterson Ridge Trail.

Other excursions will take riders on existing trails and preview future trail routes.

Those taking part in the bicycle field trips will need to provide their own bikes and other necessary clothing and gear.

The Forest Service seeks comment on the trails plan. Call 549-7700.