Fifty-five years ago, a small group of residents in NE Seattle conceived the Burke Gilman Trail and pursued its development for six years. One of the first rail-to-trail conversions in the nation, the Burke-Gilman Trail is particularly notable for serving an urban area as well as linking to a now extensive county-wide trail system.
The Burke-Gilman Trail Park Committee initiated contact with the Burlington Northern regarding acquisition of the right-of-way for use as a trail. Researched the history of the rail line and named the trail after the railroad founders, Judge Thomas Burke and financier Daniel Gilman. Garnered the support of Mayor Uhlman and thousands of Seattle residents.
Contributed to landmark decisions by the Interstate Commerce Commission that opened the door to rail-to-trail conversions across America.
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Burke-Gilman Trail it is proposed
to establish an historical marker along the trail recognizing Mayor Uhlman and the Burke-Gilman Trail Park Committee for their extensive efforts in creating this civic asset. The marker would take the form of a large stone with a bronze plaque placed beside the trail
near the NE 93rd/NE 94th Street trail access point in the neighborhood where the effort to create the trail was based.
As part of the community engagement process, your opinion and input are important.