Scenic Reber Trail connects West Hill, Fairview Avenue </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 8:40 PM on Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Scenic Reber Trail connects West Hill, Fairview Avenue

By Aaron Selbig
Staff Writer

Homer's growing trail network got a new addition earlier this month with the opening of the Reber Trail, a roughly quarter-mile long connector between Fairview Avenue and Reber Road that has the distinction of being the first trail completed with funds from the Homer Accelerated Roads and Trails Program.

Scenery-wise, it's a pretty spectacular addition, too.

Taking off from the west end of Fairview Avenue, just past Karen Hornaday Park, the gravel-covered trail winds its way up toward West Hill, its switchback turns providing a relatively easy ascent for mountain bikers and walkers of all ability levels. Passing through dense patches of fireweed and dotted with a handful of perfect picnic spots, the Reber Trail also offers panoramic views of Kachemak Bay and the city of Homer below.

Photographer: Aaron Selbig, Homer News

Sweeping views and improved trail conditions make for an enjoyable outing

"It really serves double duty. If you live in the vicinity of Karen Hornaday Park, you can use it for recreation and the cross-country users will use it to get to town. It cuts a lot of the distance off if you're going up West Hill," said city planning technician Julie Engebretsen.

Work on the trail, which included construction of five heavy-duty culverts to maintain adequate drainage, was completed by Arno Construction of Kachemak City at a cost of $143,000, said Engebretsen. Part of the funding came in the form of a $50,000 state grant while the rest came from the HART fund, a voter-approved program that designates 0.75 percent of city sales tax toward construction of roads and non-motorized trails.

The project took about two months to complete.

"Before, it was just an old homestead trail. It was very steep and muddy. We made it easier to bike and enjoy the trail," said Engebretsen.

The planning department will work next on completion of a 150-foot trail between the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness Church and West Homer Elementary School, a HART-funded project that aims to make walking to school easier for students, said Engebretsen.

In the meantime, Engebretsen is looking for input from walkers on the newly completed Reber Trail.

"If people like the trail or think it's too nice or not nice enough, let us know. It's kind of the guinea pig for what people like and want their money to be used for," she said.

Julie Engebretsen can be reached at the city planning office at 235-8121, extension 2237.

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaron.selbig.@homernews.com.