Speak Up on Mitchell Hill Management Plan

Jason Gunter – Angie Upchurch photo

Here’s an invitation for you from Jason Gunter to make your voice heard with regard to Mitchell Hill trails…

Hey Tim,

Just wanted to pass along there is a public meeting on April 28th for user groups to make comments on the Mitchell Hill management plan. This is important for many reasons.

Firstly there is a potential that trails could become limited to certain user groups which would not only limit the multi-use trail system on Mitchell Hill but on the island as a whole.

As you know I am an avid mountain biker and Mitchell Hill is one of the only, if not THE only place to ride on the island.

Preservation of multi-use trail systems on San Juan Island is very important. Two meetings will be held next Tuesday, April 28th at the Grange – One from 12:00 to 2:00 and the other from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

I encourage interested people show up at one of the meetings and also to use the online comment system. It is a way to ensure all comments are logged. I support what ever view you may have but I am strongly urging people to support the continued multi-use trail system.

The following is a link to make a comment and see all documentation.

Thanks,
Jason

Ed. – More on this subject was shared by the Trails Committee as well…

The National Park Service is in the process of developing a plan for the newly acquired Mitchell Hill and Westcott Bay properties. Public comments will be accepted during the 30-day formal public comment period from April 15 to May 15, 2015.

You can view the plan and submit comments electronically via the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website, http://parkplanning.nps.gov/sajh. You may also submit comments in writing to the superintendent at P.O. Box 429, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. One of the alternatives or a combination of the ideas embodied in them may be selected in the decision-making process.

Four alternative plans are presented, and these vary in how many of the trails at Mitchell Hill will remain multi-use and how many will become hiking-only. The plans also vary in whether the connector trail to Westcott Bay remains hiking-only or becomes multi-use.

The Park considered but dismissed the possibility of making separate equestrian-only or mountain-biking-only trails because “the level of use is low and conflicts between users are rare.”

Two of the alternatives propose construction of several new trails and trail linkages. There are also variations in what is proposed for parking and rest rooms.

The Park will hold two open houses next Tuesday at the Grange: one from 12 to 2 pm and one from 5 to 7 pm.

Additionally, the Park superintendent and staff will be more than happy to sit down with anyone and chat about the plan, saying, “Our door is open.“

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