Nearly a decade’s worth of effort by the Hillcrest Elementary School Parent Teacher Association culminated in the pavement of a community walking path, which officially opened Friday afternoon.

Hillcrest students celebrated the project by decorating the nearly half-mile long trail with chalk drawings Sept. 15.

Former PTA President Miko Delafield said the association has been discussing paving the walking path, which circles the ball fields adjacent to the elementary school playground, since the 2014-15 school year.

However, other projects took precedence over the capital project, such as providing Apple TVs and Chromebooks for classrooms. Then in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed talks about the path.

Delafield said that Samantha Horrobin re-instigated talks about the paving project when she took over as PTA president last year. Horrobin said paving the trail cost $50,000 and was paid for in full by funds the PTA has raised over the last 10 years.

“A paved walking path means students of all abilities can utilize the once gravel pathway, along with community members who walk the track in the evenings and on weekends,” Horrobin said.

The completion of the project coincides with the beginning of this year’s PTA fall fundraiser, which Horrobin said historically contributed significantly to the funds for the trail paving. If the PTA meets its fundraising goal this year, Horrobin said, the association will be able to fund a book vending machine for the elementary school.

Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times Hillcrest Elementary School President Samantha Horrobin cuts the ribbon at the opening of the newly paved walking path Sept. 15.

Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times First grader Ian Kerner helps “chalk the walk” Sept. 15 at Hillcrest Elementary School.

Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times Kindergartener Taaliyah Holmes helps “chalk the walk” Sept. 15 at Hillcrest Elementary School.

Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times First grader Maddison Muscutt helps “chalk the walk” Sept. 15 at Hillcrest Elementary School.

Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times First grader Madilynn Davenport helps “chalk the walk” Sept. 15 at Hillcrest Elementary School.

Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times First graders Isla Stewart, left, and Millie Kindred help “chalk the walk” Sept. 15 at Hillcrest Elementary School.