pivotal
Some of you are familiar with a very lengthy project my companies have been working with the community on since 2007. Known as the String of Pearls trail and open space system, the goal was to create a legacy system of former company timberlands.
I'm so pleased to announce that last week the Great Peninsula Conservancy closed on the LAST key parcel in that vision. a 467-acre property known as the Divide. With it, the system now includes 5,000 acres of former company timberlands that will be enjoyed by the community forever. The attachments have the details.
The Forest and Bay Coalition was an informal group that worked for years on this vision. It included Kitsap County, the Suquamish and Port Gamble S'Klallam tribes, North Kitsap Trails Association, Visit Kitsap, Forterra, Pope Resources, Rayonier, the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, and so many more people and organizations. It is the greatest example of collaboration (in a world that today is so divided) I've witnessed in Kitsap County and shows how far we can get when we all focus on what is most important. My personal thanks to all our partners in this effort.
Behind the scenes this closing was a TOUGH transaction for both side; lots of complexity. I want to give a huge shout out to GPC. They are Kitsap's very own, homegrown conservation group and they are a huge asset to the community.
If you are so moved please consider CONTRIBUTING to them while there is still time in the 2024 fiscal year. The link is:
https://preserve.nature.org/page/156764/donate/1?ea.profile.id=32597&en_txn1=p_g.dfa.fd.yend24.mb.dtd.nbr.ocean.X&supporter.appealCode=AHOMQ241001W1SXX01&en_txn8=NewSch.ADPCGO2412PDMZNZZD02Z03-NZUZZ-DGAQ&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyc67BhDSARIsAM95Qzst_nPQlypSsynbSocXy0omemavorqpQT_ezF8wmUKTmUkXxO655XAaApBhEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds