North Bend trail connection receives donation

Rainier Asphalt donates materials and labor for North Bend trail connection

North Bend has a new paved trail connection for bikers and pedestrians to enjoy. This connection brings the city one step closer to a complete off road, multi-modal trail system. Local company, Rainier Asphalt & Concrete, donated nearly $20,000 of material and labor to the city to bring the community a 205-foot-long missing trail segment connecting William H Taylor Park and the Train Deport to Park Street.

Rainier owner Tom Merry, a North Bend resident since 2008, said he decided to invest in this trail because he wants to contribute to the community he lives in and loves.

“We are excited to be involved in the community in this way,” he said. “Ten or 20 years hence, I’d love to be able to drive around and see projects that we’ve done to improve our town.”

Merry founded Rainier Asphalt & Concrete in 2000 while he was a student at the University of Washington. He ran his company from his home until 2006, when he opened his first office and yard location in North Bend. They recently opened a satellite location in Tacoma.

Rainier specializes in commercial, multi-family, industrial, right-of-way and public works projects. Over the years, Rainier has grown from a one-man operation to a company of approximately 70 employees.

On Jan. 5, 2017, Merry wrote a letter to North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing describing an initiative to provide up to $20,000 annually to city of North Bend for services they provide to help improve the community.

In his letter, Merry wrote that the “nature of the work could involve, but isn’t limited to: fixing trip hazards, fixing potholes, installing ADA (wheelchair ramps), installation of new sidewalks or paths, preventative pavement maintenance, traffic calming devices, pedestrian safety, etc.”

In 2015, Rainier donated asphalt seal coating at Torguson Park.

“In some ways, you (city of North Bend) were doing us a favor because we had leftover material at the end of our season and we needed a place to put it. Nonetheless, this experience planted the seed of how we could do similar things in the future to be a blessing to our neighbors and community,” he said.