After five years of working with the Department of Transportation, a mile-long stretch of the Cedar River trail is being turned over to the City of Renton.

Built on a former railroad easement, the Cedar River Trail between Cedar River Park and the trestle bridge near Riverview park, and the 100-foot easement around it, has belonged to WSDOT, though the city has maintained the trail.

On Aug. 5, Parks Planning and Natural Resources Director Leslie Betlach told the city council’s community development committee about the turn-over. Betlach said the city first contacted WSDOT five years ago about the section of trail, but since then there have been four project managers for the agency, explaining the length of time it took to complete the transaction.

WSDOT will continue to own the sections of the trail in the area of Interstate 405 expansion project and near the state route 169 corridor, but the part of the trail, and the easement, that goes past the dog park will be turned over to Renton.

“It means we can do whatever we want with that 100-foot corridor,” Betlach said.

Prior to this announcement, the city only owned 16 feet within the corridor, which included the eight-foot trail and four feet on either side.

Betlach said having the full easement under Renton control gives the more options for its parks space.

“It provides the city more opportunities for expansion and development,” she said.

The city will pay a one-time fee of about $17,000 for survey costs, permitting and paperwork.