By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com
Yachats’ scenic walking trails are favorites with locals and visitors, and new signs are adding interesting details — plus alerts to other places to stroll and sightsee.
Erected this month, the signs feature snippets of history, some archived photos, and detailed maps of all the trails in town. Measuring two feet by three feet, the works are the brainchild of Bob Langley, one of the five co-leaders of the Yachats Trails Committee, and his collaboration over several years with Wally Orchard, a fellow trails leader.
They have been installed at four sites:
- The west entrance to Yachats Wetland Park at Ocean View Drive and West Sixth Street;
- The connecting path on the 804 Trail between Marine Drive and Aqua Vista Loop;
- Inside the west gate to Gerdemann public trail at Gerdemann Botanic Preserve; and
- The Amanda Trail, at the south end of Yachats Ocean Road.
“I’ve always been aware that the bulk of trail use is limited to the more popular trails along the ocean; people aren’t necessarily aware of other trails that exist,” said Langley.
So, working at first with a graphic designer who later dropped out of the project, Langley and Orchard basically taught themselves how to design using a Photoshop program. The two spent “untold hours” manipulating images, sourcing historical photos and refining map contents to stay up to date — such as changing the label on the 501 Building to City Hall when that move occurred a few months ago.
The result was a richer map experience in all four locations. The Wetland Park map, for example, “lets people know that there is a whole network of trails in wetlands and forests that’s just a block from there,” said Langley.
The 804 Trail map offers some history of the trail, and asks walkers to respect the terrain that crosses some private properties. Each map features a “You are here” icon, trail distances, and icons for available restrooms and parking.
Langley noted that the project reflects work by all five members of the Yachats Trails Committee — Loren Dickinson, Joanne Kittel, Jan Brown, Orchard and himself. He also gave high marks to two Yachats Public Works employees — Jeremy Mabe and Russ Roberts — for their fast and efficient work in installing the signs.
Each trail sign is crafted of high-pressure laminate. Total cost, Langley said, was about $3,600. Half of that came from a grant from View the Future, a local non-profit, and half from the trails committee’s budget. The city provides funds each year for tools, equipment, workshops for volunteers and other trails projects; the amount in the current fiscal year is $12,550.
The trails committee musters about 2,000 volunteer hours every year to maintain existing trails, pull invasive plant species and improve the habitats for native plants. Those interested in the group are urged to visit its website or email the group at YachatsTrails@gmail.com
