The public is invited to attend the grand opening for the Redmond Central Connector Trail Phase II at 9 a.m. Sept. 23. The 1.3-mile extension will connect downtown Redmond with the Redmond Puget Power Trail, Willows business district and Sammamish Valley neighborhoods. The ceremony will begin with a ribbon-cutting celebration on the Sammamish River Trestle above the intersection of the Sammamish River Trail and Redmond Central Connector Trail.

The trail features artwork by Side Car Collective and work written by the current Redmond Poet Laureate, Shin Yu Pai. The renovated trestle includes integrated interpretive elements contributed to by dedicated community members and the former Redmond Poet Laureate, Rebecca Meredith. These elements tell the stories of the railroad and river as transportation corridors and their impacts on local commerce, the development of Redmond, and the environment, according to a city press release.

“The extension of the Redmond Central Connector is an integral step towards a more interconnected Redmond. This project is part of the 42-mile Eastside Rail Corridor that will expand our regional trail system,” said Mayor John Marchione.

Parking for the ceremony is available in the public parking lot at Leary Way and Bear Creek Parkway (entrance off of Bear Creek Parkway), on-street parking on Bear Creek Parkway, and the Redmond City Hall parking garage. More information about the project can be found at http://www.redmond.gov/rcc.

The project was made possible thanks to funding partners including Washington Department of Commerce, Washington Recreation and Conservation Office, Washington Department of Transportation, King County Parks and Puget Sound Regional Council.