>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Island City and the City of La Grande took a couple of giant steps this week toward creation of the proposed Grande Ronde River Greenway.

The project is a nature-based walkway along the river corridor, beginning at the railroad bridge at Island City and going west. As envisioned, the greenway eventually will stretch all the way to Riverside Park in La Grande.

According to an announcement from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Island City has finalized the purchase of a 1.5-mile stretch of land along the river.

The parcel, sold to the city by local contractor and developer Mike Becker, includes a 12-acre pond that will be opened as an urban catchable trout fishery.

The purchase was paid for with a combination of grants, including one for $1999,200 from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

Other contributions included $50,000 from ODFW’s Restoration and Enhancement Program, $65,000 from the Union Pacific Railroad’s Blue Mountain Habitat Mitigation Fund, $17,000 from the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Fund and $800 from Island City.

The ODFW announced finalization of the deal Monday. On Wednesday, the Union County Board of Commissioners decided to give the City of La Grande $10,000 in economic development funds for purchase of the greenway property near Riverside Park.

“This is typical of things we do when communities come to us for help and we have the money available,” Commissioner Steve McClure said as the board voted unanimously to grant the funding request.

The request came from La Grande City Manager Robert Strope, who said the city has entered into an agreement to buy almost six acres of land along the river from the Gertrude Lovely Estate. Strope said the city plans to eventually link Riverside with the Island City trail.

The price for the Lovely Estate property is $40,000. The city is kicking in $15,000 and has applied for a $15,000 Fisheries and Restoration Enhancement Program grant..

Strope said the Lovely parcel is not the only property along the river the city is interested in.

“We are pursuing additional property, but I can’t talk about that now because of negotiations,” he said.

The drive to build the greenway started four years ago when a group of local citizens approached Becker with an acquisition proposal. Island City has been a primary sponsor.

“Now that the acquisition is complete, plans can move forward to restore the health of a portion of the Grande Ronde River,” said ODFW spokeswoman Mary Hoverson.

Besides the trout fishery, long-term development plans include a river trail system for pedestrians and bicyclists, and interpretive signs.

Also envisioned is the establishment of an educational nature center, and wildlife habitat and water quality improvement projects.

Planned user enhancements include picnic tables, bike racks, benches and rest rooms.

A clean-up of the Island City property is scheduled May 17. People wishing to volunteer should contact Island City Mayor Dale DeLong at 963-5017.