We want to offer a huge thanks to all past and present city managers, council members, mayors, and others who helped see through the completion of the Discovery Road Project. The development has dramatically improved our quality of life as a family living next to the road. Just last year, our children could not ride on Discovery to get to school or elsewhere in town. The road did not have a shoulder to accommodate young bike riders, and drivers often went well over the speed limit. Our two children now safely ride their bikes to school almost everyday rain or shine, along with countless others on bike or foot. They love their newfound freedom. As I walk our dogs on the path daily, it is wonderful to see how it has brought out our neighborhood and increased accessibility for all.

Second, I want to give a special thanks to the Bartos-Mauro family. They organized a large group bike ride for parents and children who live in this part of PT. The goal for the ride was to help children learn bike safety, gain confidence and comfort riding around the neighborhood, and figure out how to ride to their friends’ houses. The Bartos-Mauro’s created a neighborhood map for the kids with each family’s house pinned on it. There were around twenty of us riding in the cold rain from house to house, often with hot cider, popcorn, or brownies waiting at the next stop. It was a fantastic idea, one that we will carry forward with future group rides for the children so they can safely visit friends on their own. It’s often missed in the press, but there is a budding young community here building something special.

Thanks, again, to the Bartos-Mauro’s for helping to lead the way.

Matt and Rebakah Minarchek

Port Townsend