'Walk About Lyle' Community Fundraiser Promotes Healthy Habits and Community Improvement Efforts
Lyle’s Welcome sign invites all those on SR-14 to their small community.
Lyle Community Council will be hosting their first-ever “Walk About Lyle'' community fundraising event on September 25th from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. The Council hopes that the event will help foster community, promote healthy exercise and eating habits, celebrate the beauty and history of Lyle and raise awareness of the council’s efforts to better their community.
Festivities will include a guided bird-watching walk led by wildlife biologist Bill Weiler, a history tour of Lyle led by the Twin Bridges Museum, a children’s parade, a talk about Klickitat Trail’s history led by Barabara Robinson of Klickitat trail Conservancy, and a Senior Walk-a-Thon. The majority of activities will start at the Lyle Activity Center, located on the corner of Hwy 14 and 3rd Street.
All activities are free, although donations to the Lyle City Council are encouraged. Proceeds from the event will go to the Lyle Community Council to maintain their website and host events. Masks and social distancing are encouraged at the event.
Participants are encouraged to bring a water bottle for their walk, healthy snacks will be available for purchase and a by-donation pulled pork sandwich lunch will be served at the event by the Lyle Community Council Lyle Good Food Pantry is helping to support the event by having donated some of the snacks and lunch items.
A table will also be set up to raise awareness about Community Council efforts to create safe public access to the Lyle Sandbar.
Walk About Lyle Flyer and Schedule.
Cindy Bluemel, volunteer, Lyle community member, and event organizer, said she had high hopes for the event.
“I’m really hoping we can teach people about healthy habits, get some walking groups put together, and get people talking about plans to put in sidewalks along Highway 14. That would be a great outcome.”
Bluemel also pointed out that part of the ‘Walk About Lyle’ event’s purpose was originally to raise money for efforts to improve downtown safety by installing sidewalks along either side of SR-14. However, it was decided that the more immediate need was for funds to run the Community Council website and events.
Bluemel said that the sidewalks that exist in Lyle seem to have lacked sufficient planning as they are not in high traffic areas or have fallen into disrepair.
“There’s hardly any sidewalks in town,” said Bluemel “Recently the county put in sidewalks along 5th street, and it narrowed the street so much and it makes access to the bar on the corner really difficult. Some of the sidewalks are very old and broken up and it’s kind of sad.”
Sidewalks or no, Bluemel said that the walking event was a great way for community members to meet neighbors and celebrate their community.
Lyle as seen from across the river.
About Lyle
Lyle is an unincorporated town in Washington under the jurisdiction of Klickitat County with a population of about 500 residents. Lyle has its own post office and school district. Lyle Community Council is also currently in the process of reviewing a new condominium complex proposal that would bring 30 new houses to Lyle.
About Lyle Community Council
Lyle Community Council’s mission is to foster community, build bridges between neighbors, host community events, plan and fundraise for community improvement projects, and relay community concerns to the county. Community Council Members Include Julie Larson, Oren Johnston, Nicholas Fitzsimmons, Greg Close, Glenda Lovejoy, and Bill Weiler.
