Friends of Badger Mountain
For Today ... For Our Future
Preserving Our Area’s Ridge Land/Creating a Ridges to River Trail
Land on Badger Mountain and Little Badger is slated for development. Little Badger, the ridge to the east of the Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve, is the most at risk. The owner of the 150 acres that comprises the ridge has approval for 145 dwellings and a small commercial center on the first 41 acres. We have an opportunity to acquire the land if we can raise the funds before he wants to build.
On May 1 the City of Richland submitted a proposal for $1 million to the WA St Recreation and Conservation Office on behalf of Friends of Badger Mountain. The grant requires a 1:1 match. To be eligible we need to raise $1 million in cash and pledges by the new deadline of January 31, 2009.
As we understand it, whatever price we negotiate for the land up to a certain maximum is the amount we are eligible for.
If agreement cannot be reached on terms for the land identified the monies will go towards acquisition of other parcels of interest of adjacent Badger and Little Badger lands in the city's jurisdiction. Our community at a crossroads Our area is blessed with striking natural features…ridges and rivers cradling our community between them. Our ridges are the most at risk. Are we going to let them be covered with homes? Or are we going to preserve their beauty, habitat and heritage for all for generations to come? If the city/FOBM is not awarded the state grant the monies raised from the grassroots and business match will still go towards the preservation of ridge lands. Our long-range goal is to preserve as much of our area’s ridges as we can as natural open space and to create a Ridges to Rivers Trail. The trail would connect our parks, wildlife habitats, open space and vistas by linking trails along the Columbia and Yakima Rivers, the Chamna Preserve and the Amon Creek Basin, then climb up to a long trail along the ridges from Little Badger to Badger, Candy, and Red Mountains.
This is our last chance. Once developed, the viewscape and habitats can never be replaced.
Here’s how you can help. We can achieve our $1 million goal if:
10,000 people give $100 or ...1000 people give $1000 or ...100 people and businesses give $10,000.
You get the idea, whatever you can give will be very much appreciated. We encourage creativity, eg, challenge your family and friends to match your contribution … or get your company, club or work group to pool their monies for a contribution that will give publicity to the cause as well as your group.
Hundreds of individuals donated in the push to buy Badger Mountain and create the Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve. This time, as the business community joins with citizens, we can succeed again! Spread the word about what is at risk and what is needed to save our remaining ridge land.
Information: Examine our web site or call Sharon at 943-8688
Answers to some frequently asked questions