This Tacoma-area trail is getting a $1M facelift. Take a look
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Fife City Council accepted a $999,100 grant to widen Sheffield Trail to 10 feet.
- Phase two will acquire right-of-way and easements to add 3-foot safety buffers.
- Trail links neighborhoods, library, grocery and serves as a lahar evacuation route.
The Fife City Council on Wednesday accepted a $999,100 grant to support upgrades to the 0.68-mile Sheffield Trail, which connects Brookville Park to the library.
The Sheffield Trail runs north to south between Valley Avenue East and 20th Street East, between Sheffield Place neighborhood and Regal Logistics. The Washington State Department of Commerce grant supports Phase 2 of trail upgrades. Now the city will be able to acquire the right-of-way and easements necessary to widen the existing trail from 5 feet to 10 feet, with 3-foot safety buffers on each side, according to council documents.
Upon a walk Tuesday, the paved trail abutted neighbors’ backyards and walkers enjoyed the colors of the changing trees overhead.
“The Sheffield Trail provides a vital non-vehicular transportation and recreation connection between residential neighborhoods, the Pierce County Library, the city’s only grocery store [Emish Market, 2040 70th Ave. E.] and Fife Elementary School,” according to city documents. “It also serves as a lahar evacuation route, enhancing community safety.”
Phase 1 of the project, which involved the construction of the trail and other improvements, was completed in August. That phase used $650,000 of local funds, $998,000 of state funds and $800,000 of federal funds, according to an article published by the city. Phase 2 will cost $1,096,100, which will be paid for with two Washington Department of Commerce grants, according to the agenda.
Other paved walking trails in Fife include the Five Acre Park Trail (6335 Radiance Blvd. E.), the Brookville Gardens Park Trail (6512 Valley Ave. E.), the Dacca Park Trail (2820 54th Ave. E.), the Fed Ex Trail (Accessible from Brookville Gardens Community Park. North of Wapato Creek. FedEx trail connects Brookville Gardens Community Park to 70th Avenue East), the Levee Pond Trail (7400 48th St. E.), the Interurban Trail (Accessible from 70th Ave. E) and the Frank Albert Trail (2405 Frank Albert Road E.).
