This information is provided courtesy of Spokane County’s website.
This project was developed in partnership with the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department, Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (east chapter), Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, Avista Utilities, and area land owners to permanently protect through acquisition and donated conservation easements approximately 250 acres of privately owned land that contains the core of the Beacon Hill Trail System. If completed, this project will implement the last of four “large park” recommendations identified in the 1909 Olmsted Brothers Park Plan for the City of Spokane by connecting four existing public parks (undeveloped portion of Esmeralda Golf Course, Minnehaha Park, John H. Shields Park, and Camp Sekani Park) to create one larger, jointly managed regional park totaling 550 acres. This project also preserves the 46-mile Beacon Hill Trail System, one of the largest in Washington State.
Project Timeline:
January 2020 – December 2021.
Project Budget:
$3.3 million – Budget includes $1.5 million in RCO grants (currently being applied for), Conservation Futures funding, and various donations of cash, property interest, and professional services.
Inland Northwest Land Conservancy’s Contribution:
The Conservancy is working with Avista Utilities to secure recreational easements on their properties in the project area. These easements will be held in perpetuity, ensuring access to stewardship of these pieces of land in perpetuity.
To see a map of the trail system at Beacon, visit this page.
Project Area Map (Above)
The map above shows the active properties in the Make Beacon Public project.
Conceptual Map (Below)
The map below shows what the Beacon Hill complex could look like in the future.
