Sidewalk through Peace Arch State Park near completion

Peace Arch State Park manager Jason Snow, second from right, and Washington Conservation Corps members at the site of the new sidewalk. Photo by Oliver Lazenby

By Oliver Lazenby

The Peace Arch border crossing is one of the busiest on the U.S.’s northern border, but it’s been missing a key piece of pedestrian infrastructure for years. Since 2011, a sidewalk in Peace Arch State Park went from the Canada Border Services Agency offices to the Peace Arch Monument where it dead-ended, leaving southbound pedestrians confused.

Washington State Parks started work this spring on the missing link, which will go from the monument to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol offices – a clear path for pedestrians crossing the border.

“The missing section left a gap and people crossing from Canada didn’t know where to go,” said Jason Snow, Peace Arch State Park manager. “They would end up at the state park office wondering where to go next.”

The missing link was also a safety issue, as pedestrians would occasionally wander on to the freeway, Snow said.

On May 21 and 22, state parks had six members of Washington Conservation Corps laying brick on the 413-foot long stretch of sidewalk. After that, state parks staff will complete the project. They hope to be finished by mid-June, Snow said.