By Delcenia Cosman

Reporter, Homer Independent Press

The Homer City Council approved an ordinance and accompanying resolution on Monday to dive into conceptual planning for a low-impact, looped hiking trail above Karen Hornaday Park.

Ordinance 26-30 appropriates $50,000 from the Homer Accelerated Roads and Trails Fund to fund planning of the trail. Resolution 26-041 directs the city manager to issue a request for proposals for route identification and conceptual planning.

The council held a public hearing on the ordinance, but no one testified on Monday. Both the ordinance and resolution passed unanimously. 

Council member Jason Davis reiterated that the ordinance set an upper cap on the trail route assessment, and that he thought the actual cost might be lower. 

Council members Shelly Erickson and Caroline Venuti spoke to the possibility of including in the eventual trail project expanded access for people of all ages and abilities.

“I’m kind of excited about the project because I see that we can actually make it into a multi-level, multiple types of difficulty,” Erickson said. “As we plan and we look at a bigger picture, I think it’s going to be pretty exciting to watch this happen.”

Venuti said she would be watching the project to make sure it includes accessibility accommodations.

During her report to the council for the Parks, Art, Recreation and Culture Advisory Commission, Commissioner Ingrid Harrald said that the proposed Woodard Canyon Trail would create additional recreation access in Homer. 

“The idea of having a new trail in our city is really, really exciting and not common at all … it really is one of those things that keeps our community centered,” she said. “People come here to go hiking — it’s very inaccessible across the bay, and the more we can do to make recreation accessible to families (is) really, really important.”

Find Ordinance 26-30 and Resolution 26-041 on the City of Homer website.