Kay Wagner Riverwalk Trail

Category Overview

Trails grants help communities and recreation areas fund the creation and improvement of trails for walking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. These grants help make communities more livable, create regional trails systems, and open up beautiful outdoor spaces for people to enjoy. WWRP is the largest source of trail support in the state of Washington.

Project Highlights

The Kay Wagner Riverwalk fulfills a 30-year vision to open up public trail access along the scenic confluence of the Methow and Chewuch Rivers right in the heart of our downtown. Winthrop will use this grant to acquire easements across six private properties and construct a 950 LF segment of trail connecting the Susie Stephens Trail to Confluence Park.  Riverwalk is planned as a 6-foot-wide hard-surfaced path constructed on a support structure of micro piles.  Five of the six required easements have been donated to Methow Trails with the intent that they transfer to Winthrop once the project is funded.Our community continually ranks Riverwalk as its #1 priority.  The first 560 feet of Riverwalk will fill a missing link  between downtown and the Susie Stephens Trail where pedestrians are forced to walk on along the fog line of of Hwy 20.  The project incorporates replacement of failing bank stabilization at the confluence of the rivers and riparian habitat restoration along the length of the trail.  We have scoped Riverwalk with agency consultation to shape a project that improves both public access and shoreline habitat values.  This is one segment of our planned Riverwalk.  Another short segment will be constructed in 2025.  These two initial segments will connect through Confluence Park and via downtown boardwalk.  Our aim is to establish a continuous trail system that connects existing parks, destinations, and trails for a vibrant recreation experience.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Winthrop Town of Category: Trails WWRP Grant: $2,060,000.00 Applicant Match: $1,060,000.00 Project Type: Acquisition & Development County: Okanogan Legislative District: 7 Status: Active RCO Project # 24-1891

Location Details

This trail segment is located at the south end of downtown Winthrop along the shoreline of the Methow River between the Spring Creek Bridge (Susie Stephens Trail) and Confluence Park.

What is the WWRP

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is a state grant program that creates and conserves local and state parks, wildlife habitat and working farms. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers WWRP grants, and the legislature funds the program.