In the News

Group aims to balance development, nature in Tri-Cities

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

A new private-public partnership wants to help preserve the ridges and rivers of the Tri-Cities. "I'm a lifelong resident. There's great urgency. Just look around and see what's left," said Scott Woodward, who helped found the Ridges to Rivers Open Space Network six months ago. The group's vision is to have a network of natural features and open spaces that complement residential and commercial development, he said. "We need common ideas, maps and vision," said Woodward, whose passion about saving natural features also led to the creation of the nonprofit Tapteal Greenway Association a decade ago and the recent preservation of the Amon Creek Natural Basin in Richland. "We need a regional plan," Woodward said. That might not mean a continuous trail system looping around the through the Tri-Cities to include major features such as Badger Mountain, the Chamna Natural Preserve and bike and walking trails that loop out to Sacagawea Park. But it does mean creating public awareness about the importance of open space, he said. "We want people to see a lot of things in a natural state," Woodward said. The group is a partnership of private and government agencies involving the cities of Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Benton and Franklin counties, the National Park Service, Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau, Tapteal Greenway Association, Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society and Friends of Badger Mountain. Other entities include the Community Health Alliance, Fun Fit and over Fifty, Open Space Coalition of Benton and Franklin counties and the Columbia Basin chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society. Woodward hopes to add Kennewick and the Benton Franklin Council of Governments by the end of September after making presentations to those governing bodies. "We want to make this a regionwide idea. This is the time to ask the questions," Woodward said. Woodward also said the Ridges to Rivers group will present its vision and goals at a joint meeting of Benton and Franklin counties and parks staffs from Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and West Richland on Sept. 11. Once all of the public agencies and government officials have been informed about what the Ridges to Rivers group wants, the next step will be a series of meetings to obtain public input. No dates have been set for those meetings. Woodward said the public comments will help shape the comprehensive plan for open spaces in the Tri-Cities. "This is pretty ambitious. It's the biggest thing we've ever attempted," Woodward said.
Post Date: August 31, 2008

Gift aids bid to preserve space on Badger Mountain

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

The Pasco-Kennewick Rotary Club has donated $2,000 to the Friends of Badger Mountain for preserving open spaces and hiking trails on Little Badger Mountain.

The donation brings the total raised so far by the 60-day campaign of the Friends of Badger Mountain to $105,000, said Sharon Grant, the group's president.

Grant said they also have several pledges and matching donations that she hopes will meet the goal to purchase as much as 50 acres on the small mountain overlooking the Tri-Cities.

The group hopes to convince property owner Milo Bauder of Richland to sell the land to become part of a trail system along the area's ridgetops.

The group is trying to raise $1 million by June 30 so it can apply for a matching $1 million State Recreation and Conservation Office grant.

Grant said she and others in the group have been speaking to homeowner associations, the Benton County Parks Commission Board, Richland Department of Parks and Recreation Commission, Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society, service clubs and outdoors gear retailer REI.

"Wherever we go and present, ... it is really capturing people's interest," Grant said.

One recent $25,000 pledge came from a Tri-City business owner, she noted.

Patty Heasler said her Rotary Club chose the project as its community project, in part because the Friends group recently received the "Tourism of the Year Award" from the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau.

"This is a significant project for our club that we support wholeheartedly, between willing buyers and sellers. The ridgelines and the rivers are some of our most significant assets in attracting and retaining business," said Heasler, the club president.

Information about the campaign is available at www.friendsofbadger.org.

Post Date: June 9, 2008

Little Badger Mountain could be key to skyline

Tri-City Herald

Let's all get high -- again.

The Friends of Badger Mountain successfully preserved that ridge from development the old-fashioned way, by buying it from a willing seller.

It's five years later, and the group and its supporters are going after Little Badger Mountain. We hope they use the same tactic.

With Badger Mountain, the relationship between willing buyer and seller was clear cut. With Little Badger, who knows?

The major property owner, Milo Bauder, hasn't had too much to say about it so far. Maybe that's because the grassroots group of preservationists doesn't have the money in hand. Maybe it's for some other reason.

We like the idea of preserving our ridgelines. We prefer to look up from just about anywhere in the Tri-Cities and see our "mountains" instead of buildings.

An estimated 2,500 people hike Badger Mountain in a typical week to enjoy the view and the workout. Most of the Herald's editorial board has made the trek.

When the Friends saved Badger Mountain, they did a nice thing for the community, and it was more than just preserving the mountaintop. They've also improved the trails, making the ridge accessible to much of the community.

The Canyon Trail starts off Keene Road near Bethel Church and is a 1.1-mile trail for hikers only. The 2.2-mile Skyline Trail, open to hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders, starts from Dallas Road.

If the group's long-term plans come to fruition, there will be a contiguous ridge trail from Red Mountain, over Candy and Badger mountains, to Little Badger. These high trails would connect to lower trails along the river through Amon Basin.

If the effort is successful, the Tri-Cities would enjoy a unique natural asset, providing a welcome addition to our quality of life.

The hitch, of course, is money. And it will take a lot of it.

If the Friends come up with $1 million by the end of June, the group can apply for a matching $1 million State Recreation and Conservation Office grant.

The Friends of Badger Mountain already have drummed up some community support from local businesses and a few generous individuals, but Sharon Grant, president of Friends, doesn't discount the smaller donors. Hundreds of individuals donated in the push to buy Badger Mountain.

Grant points out that if 10,000 families donated $100 each, they would have their first million.

There still are a lot of "ifs" in the deal.

If the Friends of Badger Mountain can raise the $1 million by the end of June. If the group is awarded the matching grant from the state. If the sellers and buyers can come to a mutual agreement.

But it seems doable. We would like to see this project succeed, "if" it can.

Post Date: May 13, 2008