West Seattle weekend scene: Turnpike in the Greenbelt

The past two days in our daily highlights list, we’ve mentioned Tristan‘s Eagle Scout project building a turnpike in the West Duwamish Greenbelt. Here’s the crew that pulled it off – ending work before gametime today. Thanks to Suzanne for sharing photos, including the next one, of which she explains, “You can see the mud and standing water – hence the reason for the turnpike.”

We’ll admit we hadn’t heard “turnpike” outside of a vehicle-road context before – in the forest-trail context, as with this project, it’s explained here.

The West Duwamish Greenbelt is the forest stretching along much of West Seattle’s easternmost slope – the largest contiguous forest in Seattle. It’s the site of frequent work parties by the Nature Consortium, too – find out about them here.

cjboffoli January 19, 2014 (4:45 pm)

I looked up the word too the other day when I saw your original report as I hadn’t heard of this use either. I was interested to find some info about the origin of the word ‘turnpike’ suggesting that the word apparently originated in the fifteenth century as a name for a spiked barrier. A couple hundred years later spiked barriers that could be turned to move out of the way were used on toll roads and the name stuck as a reference to the thoroughfare itself.

Rebecca January 19, 2014 (5:18 pm)

Congrats on your Eagle! Thanks for thinking of ways to help West Seattle!

Eaglelover January 19, 2014 (7:24 pm)

Saw your work recently, thanks for helping. MTN biked there recently, fun stuff.

Amber January 19, 2014 (7:37 pm)

Great job Tristan, now more people can enjoy this area.

westseattledood January 19, 2014 (7:53 pm)

Thanks to the team for their great contribution to our trail system. It is kind of difficult to know for certain from this picture, but if that yellow-jacketed fellow is Joachim, we all owe him a big thanks as well. He leads lots of volunteer work groups and they are knocking out the turnpikes all over the greenbelt. The result of this wonderful Eagles team and the other groups is that we have great access year round. Priceless. So thanks Eagles and Joachim and son and whomever else is doing the hard work down in the woods. I really appreciate being able to get down there with my dog without going through swampland. You all are leaving a great legacy for your community!

Alan January 20, 2014 (8:20 am)

Can you tell me where this trail is? I walked through the area around the time this project would have been wrapping up, but didn’t see anything. Since they met in the North parking lot, I’m hoping that it is related to a trail that had become overgrown, North of the Chinese Garden.

Gate wood mom January 20, 2014 (11:36 am)

Go to the north parking lot entrance and follow the road to the east. it curves to the south and ends in the cul de sac. The trail section is just over the hill at the south end of campus.