Burke-Gilman inducted into Hall of Fame

Cyclists all over the country now know what Seattleites have known for years: The Burke-Gilman Trail is one of the best in the nation.

The Burke-Gilman Trail, a 17-mile stretch of land spanning from north Seattle and continuing through the UW campus and west to the Sammamish River, has recently been inducted into the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC) Rail-Trail Hall of Fame.

Established in 1986, RTC is a nonprofit organization of more than 100,000 members and is the country’s largest conservancy committed to preserving and forming new public trails across the United States. Their goal is to connect people and communities through networks of public trails and shared routes.

Induction into the RTC’s Rail-Trail Hall of Fame is based on a number of different factors, such as usage and popularity, scenery, historical importance, maintenance and convenience, according to an RTC press release.

To many UW students, the trail is an easily accessible route to get from the residence halls to class, the IMA or many other surrounding campus facilities.

For students who live off campus or other Seattle residents, the trail is more than simply a nice mile or two to stroll along; it’s also a convenient path to get to work or school.

Alex Nordenson, a UW sophomore living off campus in Wedgwood, bikes on the trail frequently to get to class.

“The Burke-Gilman is very convenient and very nice,” he said. “It only takes me about 13 minutes to get [from] my house to campus. It’s direct and I barely have to encounter streets and cars.”

The trail offers easy access to surrounding neighborhoods, such as Fremont, Ballard, Gasworks Park and Marymoor.

The trail isn’t just for cyclists. Joggers and parents with strollers frequent the trail for its ease and distance from the busy streets and sidewalks.

Planning for the trail began in the mid-1970s. King County opened the local section of the trail in 1978, according to the RTC press release.

“I think [this award] is fantastic,” said Robert Foxworthy, regional trails coordinator for King County Parks, in the press release. “It’s great that the trail is getting national recognition and we’ve worked very hard to make it a premier facility for the community. This is a good thing.”

Past trails that have received the award include the Katy Trail State Park in Missouri, the Pinellas Trail in Florida and the Great Allegheny Passage, which spans from Maryland to Pennsylvania.

[Reach reporter Ben Schock at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]