SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – A line of 18 trees on the Appleway Trail was recently discovered snapped at waist height, and city officials say it wasn’t due to the latest windstorms. Instead, it was an act of vandalism.
These trees were newly planted this summer as part of a conservation effort celebrating Expo ’74’s 50th anniversary, according to City of Spokane Valley spokesperson Jill Smith. Frequent trail goers were disappointed to see the area disrespected.
Debbie and Jill, frequent visitors to the trail, spoke out about the situation.
“Yeah. I’m angry,” Debbie Vanvalkenburgkolke said. “But you can only do you part. So that’s what we do.”
Debbie and her friend Jill Shillam walk the trail multiple times but also stop to pick up trash. It started as an excuse to meet and be productive during COVID – the pair just never stopped.
“Once in a while, we’ll see somebody come by, and they’ll say, ‘What are you doing? Do you work for the county?’ And then the next time we see them, they’re carrying bags on their way back,” Jill said. “It’s kinda nice.”
Residents remain focused on maintaining the beauty of this urban green space. However, the city currently has no information on a solution for replacing the damaged trees.
