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Show Tuesday, October 29, 1991 Westminster College of Salt Lake City Volume XXXIV Issue VII SLRTC Working To Link Public Commuter Trails by Carrie Stults Forum staff writer Whether youre a hiker, biker, jogger, motorcyclist, horseback rider, skier or snowmobiler in Salt Lake you have benefited from the efforts of the Salt Lake -Regional Trails Council (SLRTC). Westminster associate professor of science, Dr. Ty Harrison, is the chairman of the council which lobbies and educates the legislature, cities and counties on the importance of public trails. SLRTC, formed 3 years ago, is concerned about environmental issues as well as the preservation of habitat, foothill trails and open access trails, said Harrison. The council is working to develop and implement a master plan for recreational trails in and around the Salt Lake Valley. Salt Lake is way behind other cities in implementing an urban trail system. said Harrison. Such a trail system would provide safe and efficient travel for bikers." We absolutely have to start using bikes," Harrison said, the city has been bad in its long-terplanning. Plan for Salt Master A future Trails Lake County includes the location and definition of many trails already existing in the valley. SLRTC is working to identify bicycle, hiking, handicapped and jogging trails to permit safe pathways. This vast network of m Trails allow bikers and others to commute almost anywhere in the Salt Lake valley. File photo members they examine where trails can be built or developed, and help cities and counties plan for trails. Last year the council and other trail supporters lobbied in the state legislature for $2 million. They received $200,000 in grants, which was used for trail planning and construction throughout the state rail The Historic Union Pacific Rail-to-- T Project is included among their efforts. This trail will connect Coalville to Park City along old train rails. We hope to see a section opening next trails links railroads, rivers, urban areas, the foothills and irrigation canals. SLRTC is working toward keeping trails accessible and safe, and to preserve natural areas, said Harrison. Working alongside the Salt Lake Co. Division of Parks and Recreation, and the Utah Recreational Trails Advisory Council, SLRTC is a volunteer citizens group incorporating the efforts of city planners, government agencies and interested organizations, said Harrison. Combining the resources of each of these year, said John Knudson, state trails coordinator, but, if things happen quickly, the trail could be open as early as winter. Another major project for the council has been to complete the Jordan River Parkway concept. This trail would run the length of the Jordan River from the Great Salt Lake, to Utah Lake, then on to Provo Canyon. A large section of that project has already been completed in Utah County, said Harrison, but now Salt Lake County and other municipalities need to connect the two trail systems. The council has also worked alongside Kids Organized to Protect the Environment (KOPE) in Sugarhousc to protect the natural area along Parleys Creek, where a commercial developer wanted to cover certain areas of the creek. battle ended in a victory for The KOPE in preventing the destruction of a unique natural area in the heart of the Sugarhousc business district, said Harrison. The result is the Hidden Hollow 2-ye- -- ar preserve. Harrison envisions a time when all of Sail Lakes trails will be connected. Westminsters trail, which is along the river, built and maintained by volunteer biology students, could eventual ly be linked with the trail in Hidden Hollow, and then with the rest of the citys trail network. Outreach Program Shouldn't Leave Westminster "In The Dust" their 3,500 students participating in some form of community service. Westminster has six students participating. Kathy Moran, coordinator for cooperative education and placement and Don Wagstaff, senior in communications, are trying to form a network for student service at Westminster. Its not a club, its a way to unify existing clubs with each other and with people who are simply interested in helping others, said Wagstaff. The network idea was brought to Westminster by Wagstaff, who had taken part in organizing the program at the U of U. The University of Utah is the hub for Utah, providing technical support, training materials and related information to help other by Heather Bradley Forum staff writer The national kickoff for Into the Streets, a new, nationwide outreach program aimed at increasing student involvement in community service, begins next month. However, Westminster is being left in the dust, said Heather Bush, sophomore in psychology. The University of Utah has more than 1,500 students involved in public service, DePauw University in Indiana had a 450 percent increase in studentcommunity service from 1987 to 1988 and the University of of San Diego has an estimated two-thirds -- campuses strengthen their community service and community problem solving. On Nov. 1, thousands of students will go into the streets to become more educated about needs in their community. The day of service will include helping at homeless shelters, schools, hospitals, day care centers and senior centers. We expect each campus to have an average of 100 students going into the streets, said a Campus Opportunity Outreach League (COOL) representative. Westminster is not meeting the standard, with only six students participating, although the party animal is out and the enlightened community activist is in, according to 1989-9- 0 Campus Compacts statistics. I know people would be interested in participating if they just knew about it, said Lisa Vannoy, senior in social science. For more information on how to get involved, contact Moran at ext. 139. self-absorb- ed How About Those Twins? ' |