Hiker Headlines: Discover Passes in Libraries and Science Shows We Need Nature

It's March 5. A bill passed the Legislature to provide Discover Passes to libraries. A new study reinforces the importance of nature to people's health, especially in urban areas. The Cowiche Canyon area needs help. And King County will offer transit passes, which cover Trailhead Direct, to people making below the poverty level.

Here's some news you might have missed while out on trail this week.

A group is raising funds to protect the Cowiche Canyon area from possible development. Photo by David Hagen. 

Check-out a Discover Pass: We are excited to see that a bill to provide Discover Passes to more libraries has passed unanimously in the state House and Senate. It now heads to the governor for his signature. This exciting bill would dedicate $35,000 in funding for the expansion of Discover Passes in libraries, allowing any library to request two Discover Passes to make available for checkout by library patrons. The bill, SB 6670, emerged this year as an important way to continue the expansion of access to trails. Some libraries already offer Discover Passes for patrons to check out. 

We need nature nearby: Wild areas in cities are important for people’s physical and mental health. A new study, which was led by the University of Washington, studied people’s experiences in hiking through Discovery Park in Seattle. Science has long shown benefits of spending time in natural areas, but this study specifically showed the value of wild spaces in urban areas.

Help preserve 245 acres: In the heart of the Cowiche Canyon Uplands, 245 acres of land are at risk of development. The area offers miles of hiking and biking through sagebrush, grassland and flower meadows, along with expansive views of the Yakima Valley. The Cowiche Canyon Conservancy has launched a campaign to purchase property and protect it forever to keep it open to recreation and to preserve habitat.  

Free transit passes: The King County Council has approved a new program to give free transit passes to people making less than 80 percent of the federal poverty level. While the exact details of what transit passes will cover are still up in the air, it will cover Trailhead Direct, which offers hikers car-free access to certain hiking trails.