Tekoa eyes rodeo arena for JW trailhead

A possible location of a trailhead for the John Wayne Trail at Tekoa could be in the area of the Tekoa Rodeo Arena which is located in the northwest corner of the city near the former Milwaukee trestle. Development of a Tekoa trailhead proposal advanced last week when Washington State Parks officials announced it was among proposed projects listed for $331,000 funding along the trail in Whitman County.

That Tekoa site was discussed during a November of 2011 open meeting for planning for development of the trail at Tekoa. The meeting in Tekoa was one of three conducted in the county by Bill Fraser, a regional parks planner who was based in Wenatchee. He has since retired.

Tekoa Mayor John Jaeger said the area around the Tekoa rodeo arena was suggested as a trailhead location because it offers restroom and water services and facilities for loading and unloading horses.

The arena ground is leased from the Union Pacific by the City of Tekoa which in turn leases to the rodeo arena organization.

Mayor Jaeger noted the Union Pacific property at the north end of Tekoa is also involved in other project proposals.

Planning is now underway for a proposed truck bypass which could use the former UP right-of-way to route trucks using Highway 27 around the downtown grades of Crosby Street. The aim of the project would be to reduce the hazard of heavy truck traffic through the downtown area of Tekoa. The grades on Crosby Street limit vision and lengthen stopping distances.

Another former concept for the UP right-of-way was its use as a memorial trail from Tekoa to the state line at Tilma.

State parks planners last week said the new funding calls for purchase of trailhead property at Tekoa to be done on a willing seller basis.

Mayor Jaeger said Tekoa officials have logged informal calls with the Union Pacific main office in Omaha, Neb., about purchasing the property. He added the asking price from the railroad was beyond what the city would be willing to pay.

The rodeo arena area has been a stopping point for bicycle and horse riders who use the John Wayne Trail. The actual trail crosses the north end of Tekoa, including Highway 27 on the former Milwaukee trestle which has been blocked off for trail use.

Westbound trail riders normally leave the trail at Lone Pine Road and descend the hill to the former Union Pacific right-of-way which takes them under the trestle to the arena area. Access to the final miles of the JW trail northeast of Tekoa can be reached via the Washington Street grade on the north side of Highway 27.

Surfacing of the trestle was also charted as one of the future needs of the trail. At one time that project headed a list of state proposals for funding from the Scenic Byways federal program, but it did not qualify.

Jaeger noted long-range plans for the Tekoa trailhead could include some type of grade link in the event JW trail users at some time in the future were allowed to cross the trestle surface.