Island County’s 20-year trails plan will be presented to the public Monday evening in Oak Harbor.

Designs Northwest Architects Inc. was hired by the county for $105,800 to develop a non-motorized trails plan for Whidbey and Camano islands.

Jill Wood, who’s overseeing the project for the Public Works Department, said this week the old trails plan was adopted in 1995 and it’s time for an update.

“It’ll make projects more credible when competing for grant money,” she said of the Design Northwests plan. “Identifying resources is part of the plan.”

Gathering public input is a major part of the process. A public open house will be held Monday, Jan. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Room 306, Oak Hall, at Skagit Valley College’s Whidbey Campus in Oak Harbor.

Wood said a presentation will be made showing trail proposals and describing the process of adopting the plan, and prioritizing trail projects in Island County over the next 20 years.

Some ideas related to North Whidbey include creating a disabled-accessible path south of the Ala Spit parking lot, helping Oak Harbor complete its Freund Marsh trail, and creating a trailhead for the popular Kettles Trails between Oak Harbor and Coupeville.

Other proposals to be described at the meeting center on creating sidewalks and paths in Freeland and linking Langley with a number of trails.

A news release states the trails plan will included proposed trails for walking, hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, kayaking and equestrian uses throughout both items.

“Research has proven that having a safe and interconnected trail system encourages activity, supports healthy lifestyle and increases transportation options for the entire community,” Wood said.

Additional open houses are planned for Tuesday, Jan. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Four Springs Preserve on Camano Island; and Wednesday, Jan. 11, 5 to 7 p.m. at Freeland Hall, Freeland. A summary of the plan is available online at www.islandcounty.net/publicworks/trails.htm.

This is the final series of hearing for the plan. Adoption by the island County commissioners is set for February.