Thank you for your e-mails and calls regarding the recent fire at the Northshore staircase and the City’s plans to rehabilitate that area in the future. First let us assure you that we have made sure that it is properly secured and made safe. As part of the bike path rehabilitation, Northshore is included in the plan for an improved pause place that includes enhancements to both the lookout and staircase, this was originally scheduled to be built next summer as part of a number of pause place enhancements.  An engineer will be on site soon to assess the structural integrity of the staircase. Using that information we will determine the best way to proceed including the possibility of building the staircase as part of the bike path improvements this summer.

In the meantime there is still access just north of that staircase that the community can use to access the Northshore Natural Area without impacting the slope.  To be clear the City is planning to not only replace, but to dramatically improve, the access to that natural area.  The only question is what is feasible this summer.

A reminder that bike path construction will be underway starting next week. Sections of the bike path will be closed this summer. For updates on the bike path rehabilitation, improvements to adjacent amenities, and closures please visit the Greenway Phase 2 page.