GUERNSEY--Nearly 30 area residents were on hand for a recent public meeting to find out more about a proposed series of projects that make up the Guernsey Historic Sites and Trails Plan.

The plan is a cooperative venture between the Town of Guernsey and the Guernsey Economic and Tourism Development Corporation, the State of Wyoming Military Department, the State of Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the U. S. National Park Service and additional citizens and agencies. 

The plan under consideration seeks to enhance the community’s trails and tourist facilities in the local area, presenting a vision for a pedestrian/cycling network and additional facilities that would aid residents and visitors alike to appreciate the deep history while enjoying new recreational trails.

The plan proposes a set of nine trail projects that would be completed over an extended period of time, some beginning now and reaching upwards of five to 10 to even 20 years.  The other three projects include improvements to or the addition of facilities.

The first public meeting to provide area residents with more of the specifics about the plan was held at Guernsey Town Hall on January 23rd.   

Ed Waddell, the Planning Manager for Western Research and Development, responsible for developing and overseeing the master plan, was on hand to provide an overview of the plan, its proposed projects and also answered questions from those attending.

The list of projects includes:

1. Camp Guernsey Con-

    nector Trail

2. South Guernsey Con-

    nector Trail

3. Old Timer’s Trail

4. Oregon National His

    toric Trail

5. Lucindy Rollins Trail—

    Flood Damage Repairs

6.   Warm Springs Trail

7.   U.S. 26 Pedestrian Under

      pass

8.   Guernsey State Park   Con

      nector Trail

9.   Colorado and Wyoming

      Railroad Rail Trail

10. Guernsey Historic and

      Archaeological Interpreta-

      tion and Welcome Center

11. Improved National Historic

      Trail Signage

12. Association of U.S. 26

      Comunities

Waddell stressed that while the plan shows a breakdown of the needs and costs for each project, it is up to the community to decide which projects would be completed and the timeline for each, noting that some may not be done until well into the future.

He also made it clear that funding for any of the proposals also remains to be seen.  He explained that these are just proposals—if the community decides there are projects they want to see done, then that will be the time to develop the funding plans.  That funding could come from a variety of sources that would be explored once a project is pursued.

Most of the projects have been developed with recreational and tourism use in mind but several are linked more to safety issues, particularly those that have to do with the roadway crossings or parallels involved.

Those in attendance were also offered the opportunity to complete a survey about the plan and its proposed projects.  Those results will be reported once they assessed. 

Over the next few weeks, the Gazette will go into more detail about each of the projects—what they involve and the projected costs. 

For more information about the Sites and Trails Master Plan, you may also contact Sarah Cowan, Guernsey Community and Tourism Development Coordinator.  Her office is located at 40 S. Wyoming Ave. or you may call her at 575-6240.