Thurston County to relinquish ownership of 1.6 miles of Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail to City of Yelm

Thurston County intends to relinquish its ownership of 1.6 miles of the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail within the limits of Yelm’s urban growth area.
Five parcels along state Route 507 totaling about 1.6 miles will be transferred to the City of Yelm for continued maintenance and improvements.

“You’ve got parts of this trail that go through the urban growth area and the City of Yelm, and they have a better ability, was the thought, to do maintenance on that portion that’s right there inside of their community,” Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser said during a Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Thurston County Public Works got approval from the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners during that meeting to submit a letter of intent for the proposed transfer of ownership.

Thurston County initially acquired the parcels as part of a recreation and conservation grant.

This letter initiates the process to amend the original agreement to add the City of Yelm as a “secondary sponsor,” which will allow the transfer of ownership of the 1.6-mile trail portion, while the county will retain ownership and maintain all other portions of the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail.