Pierce County took another step toward completing the popular Foothills Trail with the recent purchase of commercial land near South Prairie.

The county bought approximately 59,000 square feet of the South Prairie RV Park from Dwight Partin for slightly more than $1 million. The sale closed Nov. 21.

“This is an exciting development for our county,” said Executive Pat McCarthy. “The Foothills Trail is a recreational destination that showcases our beautiful environment.”

McCarthy noted the long-awaited purchase is an important step toward completion of an uninterrupted trail connecting Puyallup, Orting, South Prairie and Buckley.

The 12-foot-wide Foothills Trail sits atop a historic railroad bed. Approximately 18 miles of paved trail exists in three sections between Puyallup and Buckley.

The Parks and Recreation Department will continue efforts to purchase property that fills in the remaining gaps in the Puyallup-to-Buckley segment, which amounts to less than three miles of trail in two sections. In the meantime, the county will start seeking grants to begin work on the newly-acquired property.

“I am ecstatic that this is happening,” said Gordon “Buzz” Grant, president of the Foothills Rails to Trails Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group. “This was the most significant section of property to obtain as we work to complete the trail.”