Newberry Hill Heritage Park Update
The forested area just west of the Klahowya Secondary School entrance is still closed to the public for the ecological thinning operations. Trail closures impact the following trails: Big Cedar, Bob Cat Run, Fly Eagle and Deer Loop. Signs are posted at all trail entrances and in some cases, barricades have been placed to discourage entry as public safety is the top priority. These trails will remain closed until mid-September.
Deer Fern and Rhodie Hill trails are both open for public access.
Port Gamble Harvest Activities Beginning
Active logging within
Port Gamble Heritage Park set to begin immediately. Timber harvest will likely
conclude by the end of September. Signage will be posted at impacted roads and
trails prior to the start of logging activity. Please be respectful of harvest
operations.
Click here for trail map.
Additional trail map.
Long Lake Cyanobacteria (Blue- Green Algae) Warning
A cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) warning has been issued for Long Lake in South Kitsap. Please avoid contact with water in lake and keep pets out of the water until further notice. Signs will be posted at public access points. Click here for full press release.
Chico Salmon Park
Temporary Closure
Kitsap County Public Works, in partnership with the
Suquamish Tribe, are constructing a new bridge on Golf Club Hill Road
at the Chico Creek crossing to replace the existing box culvert to restore natural
habitat and enhance fish migration. The project is scheduled to be completed
October 2020. The park will be closed for the remainder of the project to
ensure public safety. Click here for full press release.
Update on the Kitsap Fair and Stampede
After considerable research and discussion, the Board of the Kitsap Fair and Stampede has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 Fair until August 25-29, 2021.
The Board reviewed all options related to COVID 19 guidelines, the health and safety of our volunteers, exhibitors, entertainers, and visitors before making the decision not to have an event this year. The strict guidelines set forth by the State and the CDC are financially impossible for us at this time. Additionally, after discussion with our volunteers, vendors, exhibitors and contractors, everyone felt it prudent to err on the side of safety and start anew in 2021.
The Kitsap Fair and Stampede has been a great tradition in this county for over 60 years and the Board is committed to bringing the best Fair experience to the county in the future. We will be back. We will be bigger, and we will be stronger.
Thank you to all of our partners, sponsors and everyone who has helped us produce the best event in the county. We are deeply saddened by this decision but sincerely feel it is the best for all concerned. We look forward to bringing you a safe and outstanding Fair and Stamped in 2021.
In the meantime, we encourage you to continue to visit our website at www.kitsapfair.net and our Facebook page, Kitsap Fair and Stampede. We will post updates and information as we move forward with the 2021 Fair. We’ll see you there!
Newberry Hill Heritage Park Update
Of the three areas or units at Newberry Hill Heritage Park
that were scheduled for ecological thinning, the trails in Unit 1, just west of
the Klahowya Secondary School entrance, will be closed to the public starting
on Thursday, May 28th. Tree felling and road maintenance
will begin on Friday, May 29th. These trail closures
impact the following trails: Big Cedar, Bob Cat Run, Fly Eagle and Deer
Trail. Signs will be posted at the trails and in some cases barricades
will be placed to discourage entry as public safety is a top priority.
These trails will remain closed until mid-August.
For Unit 2 off Deer Fern trail, the timber felling will be
completed by Thursday, May 28th but logs trucks will still be
loading out and hauling on Old Loop Rd through the first week of June. Park
patrons will be able to resume the use of Deer Fern the week of June 8th.
KSS and Fire Trails (west of the cyclone fence/gate) will remain open
providing access to the entire southern and eastern portions of the park.
Starting June 8, no logging trucks will be traveling on Old loop Parkway or
entering though the Seabeck/Holly gate.
Unit 3 off Rhodie Hill trail is completed and the trail is
now open for public access.
Hansville Greenway Trail Closure - May 20 - June 26
Due to active logging operations, two sections of trail in the southern
section of the Hansville Greenway trail system will be closed to park users.
The two sections of trail are located between trail markers 14 and 18 and the
Hood Canal Drive trailhead and marker 16. All other trails continue to be open
for the public to enjoy.
Volunteer Program Update
Taking into account the extension of Governor Jay Inslee's "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" orders, all work parties and stewardship meetings will remain cancelled. The Kitsap County Parks Department is working to develop protocols that will allow the reopening of its volunteer program including social distancing plans, sanitation of tools, pre-registration for work parties, and limiting participation of work parties to five or less once the "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" orders are lifted. Updates on the volunteer program will be posted here. Click here for more information on volunteer opportunities.
Conservation Futures Grant Update
Early this year, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners
announced that the County would consider applications for land and/or
conservation futures acquisition during the year through a competitive process
and will distribute up to $300,000 of conservation futures tax revenue to
eligible projects and organizations. Those entities include Cities,
Metropolitan Park Districts, Metropolitan Municipal Corporations, Nonprofit
Historic Preservation Corporations, and Nonprofit Nature Conservancy
Corporations or Associations. Click here to view more information on the Conservation Futures Grant.
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North Kitsap Heritage Park Draft Stewardship Plan & Public Comments
The North Kitsap Heritage Park Stewards presented a
Draft Resource Stewardship Plan to County Parks Advisory Board in 2019. In response to 200+ public comments, a revised Plan is being reviewed with regards to the issues, concerns and perspectives received. A Final Draft Plan will be reviewed by the Stewards and Parks Advisory Board. Click here to view November 2019 Public Comments.
