Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
malden map
Malden kiosk
Wood structure
A copy of the John Wayne Pioneer trail map included in the Malden kiosk.
The kiosk in Malden is painted colors of the Milwaukie railroad and can be seen when entering town from the east.
An empty kiosk at Malden is now stocked and ready to serve travelers along the John Wayne Pioneer Trail.
“We’re trying to incrementally improve this trail,” said Robert Yates, chairman of the Friends of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail.
The kiosk was built and installed last fall by the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders. Yates said they built the “iconic” kiosk which is painted in the colors of the Milwaukie railroad. The kiosk is sturdy, but not permanent; the legs extend into tubes in the ground so it can easily be moved.
“Where it is right now is not where it may be in a year,” Yates noted.
On Feb. 3 the Friends of the JWPT installed a large map and information at the kiosk. According to Yates, the kiosk was intentionally built to be modular so information could easily be changed out. The content and graphics, including a map of the trail, take up the top half of the board. It was produced by Marilyn Hedges, head of communications for Friends of JWPT.
“We are the ones responsible for information,” Yates said of the Friends. Information on the kiosk includes how many miles to nearby towns along the trail, where to find water, anything that improves safety and local information such as the availability of camping in the park and when the Malden Market is open.
Yates commented on the relationship between the trail riders and the Friends which are working together to get future kiosks set up along the trail. The wagons and riders group is a 501c4 and Friends is a 501c3; so the Friends can accept donations for the work and the wagons and riders are able to build the kiosk with some of those donations. Then the Friends come along behind to input and update the kiosk information as needed. All of this is done in cooperation with the state parks.
“It’s kind of the best of the private-public effort here,” Yates said.
There are nine or 10 more kiosks planned to go up along the trail, Yates said. The initial focus is on the Malden-Idaho corridor area due to the nearby population center in Spokane. The overall goal is to highlight the state-wide aspect of the trail.
“We think that this trail, over time, will be a significant revenue source for these small communities,” Yates said.
A visit by state parks with Malden town officials to talk about the trail is tentatively set for Feb. 20.
Old railroad buildings and infrastructure still stand beyond the trail and kiosk.
Jana Mathia is a reporter at the Whitman County Gazette.
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