First look at freshly paved Bethany Creek Trail

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

4 years ago

Screen Shot 2020-08-10 at 11.31.24 AM — Despite it not being officially open yet, these local kids found their way onto the path and were having a great time pedaling and picking blackberries.
(Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Screen Shot 2020-08-10 at 11.16.11 AM — New path in yellow. Rock Creek Trail in violet.

A relatively short but important link in Washington County’s regional path system has been paved.

Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation Department has invested $1.1 million in the Bethany Creek Trail which runs from Springville Road to the existing Rock Creek Trail/Bethany Terrace Trail. The land is owned by Bonneville Power Administration and had been an unpaved, informal route for years. The length of the new path is just under one-half mile and the width is 10 feet wide with a gravel shoulder on each side.

View south where new path meets Rock Creek Trail.

Looking south with Kaiser Woods on the right.

When I stumbled on the new path yesterday, several groups of kids from adjacent neighborhoods had already discovered it and were making great use of this safe, smooth and carfree bikeway. Paths in this area are so valuable because Washington County has not done a good job building safe on-street bike facilities amid rapid growth in housing. Now more people in the many new developments along Springville and Kaiser roads can connect to existing paths for fun, fitness, and reaching jobs and other destinations.

Screen Shot 2020-08-10 at 11.32.17 AM — Northern end of the new path at Springville Road.

Screen Shot 2020-08-10 at 11.32.22 AM — Looking south at new path from Springville Road.

On that note, THPRD plans to build a crossing treatment at the northern end of this path so people can get across Springville Road. The project isn’t complete yet and is expected to be done by October. More info on project website.

We can’t build paths like this fast enough. More please!

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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