On a sunny Sunday, over a thousand people flooded Matthews Beach Park to support or oppose the creation of a new hiking/biking trail following the old Seattle, Lake Shore, and Eastern Railway route. Hikers and bikers strongly favored the idea, but nearby property owners feared noise, litter, and vandalism. Some attendees carried signs. Local politicians and people from both sides of the issue spoke to the group.

Here, the crowd listens to an unidentified speaker. To the left is a partially obscured sign from “Seattle’s Sr. Citizens,” saying they can’t hike or bike but would love to have a train.

Caption information source: “Hundreds Hike Along Lake Rails,” by Ed Stover, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 13, 1971, pages A1, A5.