Tag Archives: hike

Tigard Heritage Plaza-Trail System Update

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Update: 12/14/2019 Marc Woodard

On November 19, 2017, I wrote the following article: Transforming Tigard Heritage Trail. I’ve added current pictures 2 years later. As you can see there’s been great improvement on the heritage trail system. Upon the projects completion I’ll add updated images to make the before and after comparisons.

Avid walkers, joggers and bikers are likely familiar with a crescent shaped porous asphalt pathway running parallel with Tigard Street and intersecting at Tiedeman Avenue and Main Street in down town Tigard.  In 2013 city leaders wasted no time to secure the ¾ mile abandoned rail right-of-way with ODOT (Oregon Depart of Trans) through a 99 year intergovernmental lease agreement. Shortly thereafter the city began trail design concepts and receiving feedback through multiple public outreach efforts.

“An open house was held in September 2014 to present the initial trail design plan. Over 100 people participated on-line or in-person. The plan was generally well received.

Looking South Towards Main Street. Events and entertainment staging area, Veterans wall and flag, Clock tower, children’s splash pad have all been topics of discussion. Photo by MirrorAthlete,19 November 2017

The concept then grew legs into four main sub-areas: 1) A community plaza [now Rotary Plaza, Council Resolution 17-14] where the South trail intersects Main Street next to the commerce building; 2) a Commons area that include concepts for a dog park and/or BMX-bike-pump track [mid-heritage trail segment]; 3) a Stage Area for performance space; and 4) a second trail gateway entrance with plaza space at the north end of the trail intersecting Tiedeman Avenue.

Looking South Towards Main Street. Events and entertainment staging area, Veterans wall and flag, Clock tower, children’s splash pad have all been topics of discussion. Photo by MirrorAthlete, 14 December 2019

Three popular trail themes have been reviewed for possible development after three public walk and talk sessions held during the Summer of 2017.  The trail themes were, Trail as Outdoor Museum; Trail as Riverine History; and Trail as Timeless Railway. After public input – the two most popular themes appear to be timeless railway and outdoor museum.

Looking South on Heritage Trail Heading Towards Main Street. Grant Street is to the right. Photo by MirrorAthlete,19 November 2017
Looking South off of Tiedeman railroad track [North End]. Second trail gateway entrance with plaza space venue. Photo by MirrorAthlete,19 November 2017
Looking South on Heritage Trail Towards Chamber Building and Main Street. Photo by MirrorAthlete,19 November 2017
Looking South on Heritage Trail Towards Chamber Building and Main Street. Construction under way. Photo by MirrorAthlete, 14 December 2019
Looking North on Heritage Trail under HWY 99 Overpass. Photo by MirrorAthlete, 14 December 2019
Looking North on Heritage Trail Grant Street Ahead to the Left. Photo by MirrorAthlete,19 November 2017
Lean How to Live the Lifestyle You Need, Want and Deserve Now! Lean more about the Author Marc Woodard and Ageless MirrorAthlete
Looking North on Heritage Trail parallel with Tigard Street – Coming up to Grant Street on the Left. Photo by MirrorAthlete, 14 December 2019

Some of the most popular trail and plaza amenities ideals include: Rotary Plaza clock tower and peace pole, Veterans wall and flag, farmer’s market and event space in flexible plaza staging area with overpass LED accent lighting; parking under Highway overpass, and along Tigard Street abutted to heritage trail system up to Grant Street.

Also an adult outdoor fitness center with wheelchair access is possible along Tigard Street “green space” parking, Just West of HWY 99 overpass.  Also competing for this space children’s splash pad zone.

Cultural and historical interactive art stations are planned along the trail way and may include time capsules… And the BMX-bike-pump track concept continues to be very popular with biking enthusiasts and community at large.

Looking North on Main Street. Heritage Trail Gateway into Plaza Area Photo by MirrorAthlete,19 November 2017
Looking North on Main Street. Heritage Trail Gateway into Plaza Area Photo by MirrorAthlete, 14 December 2019

How is the City paying for the the Heritage Street Trail Project?

Lion Share Funded by 700k Connect Oregon VI Grant

“On Aug. 18, 2016, the Oregon Transportation Commission announced a $700,000 award to the city of Tigard through a Connect Oregon VI grant.” Other funding sources and donations include: Washington County MSTIP grant; City of Tigard and Down Town Urban Renewal funds and Rotary Club donations, etc. Construction began in 2018.

Team designers are always looking for further input in creating trail elements that compliment Tigard’s Outdoor Museum. 

To provide input/ or learn more about the project: http://www.tigard-or.gov/business/tigard_street_trail.php

Good Health to You and Your Family.

Marc Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET., is a member of the Tigard City Council. He is a strong proponent of City involvement in providing recreational opportunities for its residents. 2017-19 Copy right. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., www.mirrorathlete.org

Boot Up Properly To Walk Anywhere

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I’m often asked why I Boot Up to walk easily accessible sidewalks, parkway and greenway paved trail systems. My reasoning is basically 5-fold.

1) I often walk through narrow dirt trail systems in publically owned wooded areas with overgrown brush and weeds within Tigard, OR City boundaries. You can find these remote trail systems within and around Dirksen Nature Park, Bull Mountain Park, and Cook, Cache and Sunrise Parks and sections of Genesis loop. Also Fields and Brown property behind the Tigard Library running parallel with the train tracks. To include other unimproved land areas not well known to the general public.

Marc Woodard, Tasha Wolfe, Beth Gunn-Woodard, Ashton Osteriech, Hiking Portland, OR Forest Park, 2018

2) If you love trail walking or work within rural and forested environments, or like to hike, camp, hunt over the weekends protective all-weather clothing, backpack and supportive footwear in my opinion is the best attire to wear during daily walking exercise to keep the feet and body conditioned to participate in any of those activities year around.

3) Boots are more resistive to walk in than tennis shoes and require daily use to keep feet conditioned to wear them comfortably for any occasion. They also provide a superior level of protection from puncture, abrasions or blunt force that may occur on uneven and unstable outback surface conditions.

4) Regardless of foot wear choice and activity, an improperly fitted boot like any shoe can cause hotspots and blisters; to include lift toenails ever so slightly which allows fungus to enter under them. Toenail fungus is the cause of yellowish, thickened and cracked nail and painful conditions. To learn more about proper fitting foot ware, foot care and toenail fungus connection and treatment – Read: Clear up Yellowed, Thickened and Cracked Toenails Visit: Article short link: https://wp.me/p8mORL-uu

5) If you have ankle supination problems [where the foot strikes the outer back edge of heal first with unstable force], a properly fitted boot with 6″ ankle height support will likely keep the foot from buckling inward and may prevent strain or sprain of the outer ankle joint.

Loaded Back Pack – 25lbs of apples

My go-to walking gear consists of ankle high tactical boots with insole inserts for additional padding and arch support. I also wear lightweight protective long-sleeved and tactical flex-pant clothing, hat and often Don a backpack with 3 liters [~6.6lbs] of water. Additional gear consists of a flashlight, jerky or power bar, rain proof wind breaker, extra pair of socks, water purifier drinking straw, first aid kit and a pair of well-worn boots – should the primary boot compromise a foot during a long walk.

If boot change out or foot treatment does not occur prior to developing a hotspot… This can result in a painful domino effect in any combination(s) of weight bearing joints, i.e., knee, hip, back and neck. In general and in many cases – weight bearing joint pain begins at the feet first and works its way up the body as exercise activity continues without foot ware adjustment. If foot discomfort is not addressed timely and pain persists daily this doesn’t motivate people to walk more.

My recommendation for anyone looking to condition the feet and body for long walks; traverse up and down hills as much as you walk the flatlands. It is hilly slops where boot ware can be tested for excessive slippage, uncomfortable pressure points and hotspots caused by improperly fitted footwear. This is the time to make adjustments, not while on a long or remote hike in the mountains. I can’t begin to tell you how many types of insoles, socks, moleskin [protective adhesive hotspot Band-Aid-like patches] and boots I’ve gone through to find the right combinations that allows me to walk on average 8-10 miles per day comfortably anywhere without pain.

No matter the adventure… foot maintenance should be the priority.

Before beginning long distance walking program, it is helpful to first plan conditioning the feet and breaking in the footwear over a 4 week period. I recommend walking daily at a pace and distance you’re comfortable – then increase duration gradually. There is a secondary benefit to hauling up-to10-12lbs of essentials on daily walks most don’t consider. The additional weight takes extra cardio and muscular endurance effort while burning more fat calories.

Once feet are conditioned, try donning a lightweight back pack and add weight gradually on a daily basis if you want the increased fitness benefits to condition the body… especially feet for a remote hiking expedition.

Good health to you and your family.

Marc Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET., is a member of the Tigard City Council. He is a strong proponent of City involvement in providing recreational opportunities for its residents. 2018 Copy right. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., “To learn more about MirrorAthlete Fit Healthy Lifestyle, City Recreation and free monthly newsletter, visit: www.mirrorathlete.org