Trail Advocates Refocus Strategy After County Denial, Plan Improvements and Regional Expansion

WALLOWA COUNTY – While Wallowa County Commissioners voted last week to deny the City of Wallowa’s request to add the Minam-to-Wallowa Trail-with-Rail Refinement Plan to the County Transportation Systems Plan, trail advocates say the decision marks a pivot point — not an endpoint — for their long-term vision of connected, multimodal pathways in Eastern Oregon.

In a message circulated to supporters following the vote, organizers acknowledged disappointment but emphasized the momentum generated through months of public engagement, coalition-building, and local advocacy.

“While the decision is disheartening, this process has endowed a productive effort to advocate for trail planning at the county level,” the group stated, pointing to the scale of community participation since the first Planning Commission meeting on the proposal in June.

According to organizers, supporters participated in four public meetings and hearings, delivering 56 individual testimonies. More than 153 written letters were submitted in support of the proposal, along with an additional 193 signatures collected through an informal petition.

Advocates say the campaign helped elevate public awareness around the management of the Wallowa Union Railroad Authority corridor and sparked renewed interest in the role and capacity of the County Planning Commission. They also highlighted the partnerships and working relationships formed throughout the process as a foundation for future progress.

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Elkhorn Media Group