Lopez Community Trails Network was organized one year ago to promote, plan and build trails and pathways throughout Lopez Island.

The group has grown to a membership of 80 individuals. LCTN was recently awarded an assistanceship by the U.S. National Park Service for 2011.

The NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservancy Assistance Program will help LCTN with planning, building and maintaining trails, building an effective organization, connecting with supportive agencies, and helping to locate funds.

Alexandra Stone will be a partner to LCTN for the next year. Stone and her husband are already Lopezians with a vacation home near Mud Bay.

In its brief history, LCTN has already accomplished much. A trail building class in June conducted by Bureau of Land Management personnel led to the building of most of one trail, with plans for a second. LCTN is meeting with the Lopez Village Planning Committee to assess old and new plans for paths and walkways through the Village.

LCTN hopes to promote “walkability” in the village, developing connections throughout the commercial area and connecting them to trails to outer areas. A leading Seattle landscape architecture firm, Jones and Jones Architects, is providing pro bono expertise and geographic information system capabilities in developing trail linkages.

LCTN’s goals focus on making responsible connections throughout the island, sharing the environment, conserving resources, while respecting property rights. The trails group’s activities are coordinated with San Juan County through the County Council, Land Trust, and Village Planning Committee. The public is invited to meetings held the third Thursday of each month at the Lopez Library. sThis month it is on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m., For further information or to be put on the email list, contact kirmant@gmail.com or call 468-2474.