PRESS RELEASE

April 12, 2002
Contact : Sue Abbott
Phone number : 206-220-4116

Lakes-To-Locks Water Trail Wins National Partnership Award
Blue-Trail Partners Connect Communities by Water

Seattle, WA-The Seattle area's Lakes-To-Locks Water Trail recently floated away with the 2002 National Park Partnership Award in Recreation. The Partnership Awards recognize outstanding partnerships that further the preservation, conservation, education, and recreation mission of the National Park Service. Lakes-To-Locks partners traveled to Charleston, South Carolina, in March to receive their award at the Association of Partners for Public Lands conference.

Three key values attributed to the trail were building a strong regional partnership; creating education and stewardship opportunities; and providing enhanced recreation, health, and a local sense of place. In expressing her congratulations to local trail partners, Fran Mainella, Director of the National Park Service, said "your leadership, dedication, and commitment to this project ensured its success, benefited the American people, and offers a model we will share throughout the National Park Service."

The Lakes-To-Locks Water Trail stretches from the Eastside's Lake Sammamish, north along the Sammamish River, around Lake Washington, through the Montlake Cut to Lake Union, and west to the Chittenden Locks. The freshwater trail was designed for small, non-motorized boats. With more than100 miles of shoreline to explore, and a chain of 100 launch and landing sites, the "blue trail" provides plenty of opportunities for Seattle-area residents to experience their special place from the water.

The National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program and Washington Water Trails Association have worked with 14 local partners over the last three years to build support for the trail, design a logo, select trail signs, publish brochures, and plan a stewardship program. Lakes-To-Locks Water Trail partners include the cities of Seattle, Renton, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Bellevue, Redmond, Woodinville, Bothell, Kirkland; King County; Washington State Parks; Washington Department of Fish and Game; the Port of Seattle; and Army Corps of Engineers.

The National Park Partnership Award comes soon after Lakes-To-Locks received recognition in 2001 as North American Water Trails' Blue Ribbon Trail of the Year Award. It also coincides with the publication of detailed East and West Section maps for the trail's 100 launch and landing sites. For more information, please contact Washington Water Trails Association at 206.545.9161, wwta@wwta.org.