Project took six years of work

OTHELLO - More than 25 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Othello walk-and-bike path Wednesday afternoon.

The ceremony opened with a prayer from Pastor Larry Garza.

Mayor Shannon McKay said the path is the culmination of six years' worth of work on behalf of several people.

The project was a cooperative effort between the city, Adams County commissioners, Adams County Public Works Department, East Columbia Basin Irrigation District and other community members granting easements, engineering the project and applying for grants, he said.

The 4.8-mile walk-and-bike path spans from 14th Avenue near Walmart, passes along Lions Park and leads to Fourth Avenue. It continues toward Kiwanis Park and leads to Cemetery Road, back toward Walmart.

The final 1.5-mile leg of the project was completed with $160,000 in grant money. The final portion connected the entire path.

"It's taken a long time and a lot of cooperation," Adams County Commissioner Jeff Stevens said.

Most of the project is a combination of donated land and already established walkways.

McKay said Adams County Engineer Bill Johns helped bring the project together.

"He really took this personally and you could tell it meant a lot to him," he said.

Johns said he chose to assist with the final installation of the project because it was the missing link to connect the path into a loop.

He said the project helps to make it safer for school children and people exercising who walk across Cemetery Bridge. Previously there was no designated walking path and now there are paths on both sides of the bridge.

"I've seen quite a few walkers already," Johns said.

He said there are other benefits too. It provides another access route to the commercial area and to acres of vacant land expected to develop.

"It's been a good project," Johns said. "Everybody you can think of is in on this thing."