What else happened 30 years ago this month, besides the ignominous resignation of Richard Nixon? If you guessed t

he opening of the first sections of the now legendary Burke-Gilman Trail, you’d be right. It’s time to celebrate the region’s most famous ‘multi-use path’ as it reaches its thirtieth birthday. Please attend and let Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and others know that our support for completion of the trail is as strong as ever! Strong turnouts for advocacy projects like this gets important community projects completed.

Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail are working with the Cascade Bicycle Club, Bicycle Alliance of Washington and the city of Seattle to create and celebrate Burke-Gilman Trail Day on Saturday, Sept. 18. The focus of the day’s event will be the groundbreaking ceremony for the newest section of trail, stretching from the Chittendam Locks to N.W. 60th St. in Ballard. Mayor Nickels and other city, local and regional politicians and officials will attend, along with trail supporters from far and wide.

While some details are not yet finalized, the groundbreaking will take place at a suitable location near the Locks. We anticipate having participants gather (time to be determined) at the Ballard Fred Meyer at 11th Ave. N.W. and N.W. 44th St. to bike, walk, run and skate en masse to the event. Or you can simply meet us at the groundbreaking. Stay tuned to the September Courier for planned CBC rides with participants joining in from several locations, including Tracy Owen Station, Richmond Beach and Gas Works Park.

Why all the hoopla for this event, and just how did the trail get started? The concept originated with a citizen’s group called the Burke-Gilman Trail Park Committee that formed in late 1970 after learning that Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) was going to abandon the spur line. Between 1971 and 1973, the city negotiated with BN resulting in the city acquiring the right-of-way. The rails and ties were removed between October 1973 and February 1974 and the trail was then opened for limited interim use.

In the summer of 1974, the city paved the first section of trail between Latona Ave N. and Pasadena Pl. N.E. While only about four blocks long, it represented the first section of trail construction. The construction of the trail between Kenmore and Gas Works Park was completed in 1978, and the official dedication was on Aug. 19, 1978. Since then, short sections have been completed bit by bit, inching toward the ultimate goal of a separated trail extending from Golden Gardens Park in Ballard to Kenmore to points beyond.

With the Seattle City Council’s April 2003 approval of Mayor Nickels’ plan for the permanent and interim trail route through Ballard -- a decision supported by Cascade and trail advocates -- the ‘Missing Link’ sections of trail, in limbo since the late 1990s, have been authorized. Funding has been in place and approved since 1997. Trail supporters must show that we don’t want to wait another seven years (or 30!) to have all the sections completed.

We hope you can join us on Sept. 18 to celebrate this tremendous community asset as it moves one step closer to reality. For more information, check Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail website, and look for more detailed information in next month’s Cascade Courier.