Olympic Discovery Trail vs. Four Property Owners

The Olympic Discovery Trail will someday — hopefully — be a non-motorized trail running from La Push to Port Townsend. But for now, the trail is being held up in Sequim.

Four property owners on Spruce Street are objecting to having the trail run too close to their homes.

It’s easy to sympathize with people who don’t want hordes of people near their homes. But it happens. Every time a park is created or a freeway is expanded, somebody loses a little bit of elbow room (or worse).

But, as City Councilman Walt Schubert pointed out: “It’s been proven that property values go up when you’re on the trail.”

A local realtor and parks board member said: “The Olympic Discovery Trail is a very important element in our tourism economy and our retirement economy. Usage grows every year.”