Fundraising Update

You've seen them at the park and on Bond Rd - large thermometers tracking the progress being made toward the purchase of the Port Gamble land. We are so close! The Kitsap Forest and Bay Coalition has raised $2.2 million to save the forest. The deadline to raise the remaining $1.3 million is fast approaching but it is not too late to donate. A generous Bainbridge Island couple will match up to a $100,000 for all donations through June 15th! Please help preserve this amazing resource - make donations online at SavePG.org.

Speaking of Donations...

Thank you for your support of the North Kitsap Trails Association during the Great Give in May. We exceeded our expectations and raised nearly four times the money we did last year! This year, 79 generous donors donated around $20,000 - wow! Your generosity and support for saving the forest are very much appreciated. The North Kitsap Trails Association, in turn, committed $10,000 more in matching funds. That means together we were able to preserve another 12 acres of forestland. It is so exciting and rewarding to see a community come together to save such a treasure. Thank you!

Beaver Trail Update

NKTA has been working with the Great Peninsula Conservancy to improve access along the Port Gamble Beaver Pond trail. A rerouted trail provides a path that doesn't disturb the pond's animals was constructed earlier, while the old trail lets visitors get close to a true wonder of nature - beaver dams! NKTA will continue working with GPC this summer complete GPC's project. The old boardwalk will be removed so the loop portion of the trail will be closed, making it an up-and-back walk. However, two new viewpoints will be constructed to create incredible views of the beaver dams and ponds and make the walk well worthwhile! Further south, a new boardwalk that will support horses has replaced the old rickety one. Only some additional gravel for the bridge approaches and installing cedar railing caps remain to be added. We sincerely thank REI for their financial support to improve our trails.

It will take the work of volunteers to make all this happen. Watch this space for days and times of work parties this summer.

What's with all the logging?

Actually, there are two answers to that question! First, the logging in the original 540 acre Heritage Park is called "restorative thinning" and it is meant to help turn the park from a tree farm to a natural forest. It is kind of like weeding your garden - pull out what you don't want to encourage what you do want! So, the County is thinning the trees to create a more natural forest by providing room and light for native plants, trees and wildlife. See the NKTA website for a more detailed explanation and pictures showing the difference between a natural forest and a tree farm.

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