When it was completed in 2005, the Tommy Thompson Trail became an instant favorite of the residents of Anacortes, Wash., and the tens of thousands of visitors to the city each year.

It's not hard to see why. Connecting the marina in downtown Anacortes with a stunning trestle over the sparkling waters of Fidalgo Bay, this rail-trail is much-loved by locals and tourists alike for its expansive views across the water to Mount Baker and the North Cascades.

Now, the success of the Tommy Thompson has spurred local trail supporters to envision even bigger and better things.

The Anacortes Parks Foundation recently launched a plan to build a new trail along the waterfront--a project they are calling "Complete the Dream." That dream is to effectively extend the Tommy Thompson along the north shore of Fidalgo Island, on which Anacortes sits, bringing to fruition a long-held vision of an island connected by a perimeter trail.

The trail would follow a three-mile section of an out-of-service Burlington Northern railbed along the channel shoreline, linking downtown Anacortes and Washington Park. The transportation benefits and scenic attraction of a shoreline multi-use path from Washington Park and the busy Washington State Ferry terminal to the heart of Anacortes is sure to provide both a quality of life and a commercial benefit to residents and businesspeople.

The new trail could even top the visual splendor of its older sibling--the north shore of Fidalgo Island looks out across Rosario Strait to the idyllic San Juan Islands, and the setting sun to the west.

"It will give Anacortes residents peaceful and scenic access along the waterfront with views up the Bellingham Channel and to the Guemes and Cypress Islands," said Michele Pope of the Anacortes Parks Foundation. "It will bring economic vitality to both the ferry terminal and the downtown. By converting this significant trail segment, Anacortes will continue to gain respect for the care its citizens take in improving the quality of life on this beautiful island."

The Anacortes Parks Foundation is currently working with the city of Anacortes and private individuals and organizations on fundraising and initial planning.

Photo courtesy of Michele Pope/Anacortes Parks Foundation.