Volunteers   --   In the future we will need volunteer trip and event leaders if the FFOFC is to grow.  If you are interested or enjoy some activity that you think others would be interested in also, step up and lead this activity.  We will provide advice and help in arranging transportation and publicity.  Lets all participate.  It's part of the fun of being a Fun, Fit and Over Fifty Folk..

Open Space Planning in the Tri-Cities (WA) Region

 

Purpose

 

The purpose of this application for NPS assistance through the RTCA program is to facilitate a public open space planning process in the greater Tri-Cities area of Washington State. A network of lands across the study area will be identified for conservation, because of the natural and aesthetic values they possess; and recreation, because of the access, linkages, and opportunities they provide. Planning tools of each of the participating jurisdictions will be reviewed and modifications suggested to ensure that the needed visions, policy statements, and regulations are in place to protect the identified lands to the extent possible.

 

Project Partners

 

Lead:

 

Initial Partners:

 

Project Description and Anticipated Results

 

The study area for this project is anticipated to cover lands in the greater Tri-Cities area, including Kennewick, Finley, Richland, West Richland, and much of unincorporated eastern Benton County. This area could expand depending on who participates in the public process, the lands that are identified, and the level of interest shown. For example, Pasco and parts of western Franklin County might decide to opt in when they learn of this process. There is the potential to coordinate with the Hanford Reach National Monument as well as Washington State Fish and Wildlife areas. The intent is to take a broad regional look at open space, identify features that define our area and have recreational and natural value, find linkages where possible, and enable mechanisms for permanent protection.

 

The growth rate in the Tri-Cities is one of the highest in Washington state, adding urgency to this planning process. The combined population of Benton and Franklin Counties is currently 230,300 and is projected to reach 306,473 by 2025. The current cumulative population of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, and West Richland is 168,650; combined, these cities have surpassed Vancouver as the 4th largest community in the state. With this population increase comes increased development of open spaces in our communities. However, many natural features that define our character are currently not protected and are threatened by this continuing development pressure. Hillsides and natural habitats are being developed, trail easements and access points are being lost, and viewsheds are permanently altered. Sufficient planning has not occurred to allow community development staff to determine what needs to be preserved and identify when an important feature is targeted for development. In addition, jurisdictions in general do not have the policy statements and regulations needed to shape how developments occur. Existing development regulations do little beyond minimum State requirements to restrict the type of development allowed on and near these significant natural features. Where such regulations do exist, they often are not consistent across city and county boundary lines. Such tools as land swaps, density adjustments, and grading permits are not available in some cases.

 

In spite of these issues, the Tri-Cities still has significant natural features including mountains, ridge tops, canyons, rivers, riparian areas, wetlands and natural shrub-steppe environments. These features reflect our unique geologic history, including massive basalt flows and ice age floods. Some areas in the region have already been preserved, including the Chamna Natural Preserve (one of the 50 best hikes in eastern WA according to the Mountaineers), part of the Amon Creek Basin, and other areas along the Tapteal Greenway, which was established subsequent to a previous RTCA planning process similar to the one proposed here. A portion of Badger Mountain was recently acquired and has become one of the most frequently visited parks in the area. But many equally valuable areas remain unprotected. A very unique ridgeline comprised of individual hills and mountains, including Badger and Rattlesnake Mountains, crosses the study area. There is local interest to preserve the ridgeline, not only for hiking and other low-impact recreation, but because it is a key element in defining what home feels like in the Tri-Cities. There are other habitat areas described by the Open Space Coalition, a coalition of local conservation organizations and other like-minded individuals and groups, as well as trail connections to link existing trails. There is also a desire to connect ridge top trails to the various river trails to create a “Rivers to Ridges” system.

 

There is a large potential to take advantage of these features for the benefit of the entire community if sound planning can preserve them into the future. For example, an open space network that connects key natural features can result in a unique regional identity and help improve the quality of the built environment. Preservation of important biological corridors can result in more sustainable cities. Natural open spaces, especially when they provide access to low-impact recreation such as trails and nature viewing, can attract businesses and tourists, helping to stabilize and diversify our economy. Open space and muscle-powered recreational opportunities are especially important in attracting the innovative 20- to 30-year-old entrepreneurs local leaders believe are needed to drive the new economy.

 

The timing for this planning process is right. The City of Richland has asked staff to look into initiatives to preserve natural open space. Staff and the Open Space Coalition have been meeting for several months to identify important areas and review city policies and regulations. A workshop to facilitate discussion between Council and the Planning Commission was held in June. The City of Kennewick similarly has met with its Planning Commission and is interested in looking at open space issues. The Three Rivers Community Roundtable, a group of local leaders interested in promoting business development in the Tri-Cities, identified open space planning and the urban/rural interface as one of four key projects to be addressed over the next few years in terms of preserving the natural environment, sense of place, and quality of life as important aspects of a healthy economy. The Ice Age Floods Institute – Lake Lewis Chapter has recently identified flood features in this area and an effort to preserve these sites and possibly provide public access as part of the proposed Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail would be timely. In addition, the public is ready for this discussion having recently played a large role in preserving Badger Mountain and Amon Creek.

 

Commitment for Public Involvement

 

It is expected that open space planning workshops will deeply engage the public in this issue, create a community vision of what they want their community to look like and feel like, and will imbue a sense of ownership and resolve to carry the plan forward toward implementation. A similar workshop process to start the Tapteal Greenway did exactly this by establishing legitimacy, ownership, and public will which has propelled the organization through 12 years of solid and continuous conservation, trail-building, and education efforts. An open space plan will also provide planning staff with maps to clearly show priority lands so that appropriate actions can be taken. The plan will enable fundraising efforts, contributions, and volunteer action. Guidelines for improving policies and regulations will be established so that staff and the public can initiate appropriate changes in their respective governments.

 

Roles, Resources, and Contributions

 

Landscape planning and group facilitation expertise is requested from the RTCA program. RTCA will coordinate with jurisdictions and will likely arrange and lead planning meetings among partner representatives prior to public workshops. RTCA will facilitate the public workshops in order to elicit public input in an orderly and respectful manner. The City of Richland will provide meeting rooms, mapping within its UGA, printing, and mailing of notices and updates. The City of Kennewick and Benton County can also provide mapping. Local Ice Age Floods Institute members can also assist with mapping. The Tapteal Greenway and other non-profit organizations listed above will publicize meetings and report workshop results in their newsletters, assist the facilitator where needed, and participate in workshops and planning meetings.

 

Support for the Project

 

All of the partners are highly motivated to successfully complete the open space planning process. Conservation groups want to see land preserved and jurisdictions need to know what lands the public believes are important in order to responsibly develop the urban community yet preserve features that define the character of that community. We continue to look for other partners in this process.

 

Letters of support/participation are attached to this application. Letters are from:

 

Related Strategic Initiatives

 

This project relates to the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, proposed by the National Park Service to Congress in 2001, and currently under consideration in both houses. This study would augment local planning that has already occurred and may provide the impetus and mechanism to preserve some of the sites identified. A greater awareness by local residents of these unique flood features will also result.

 

The Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance, consisting of representatives of the three local hospitals, the Benton Franklin Public Health District, area clinics, and numerous community groups, is a participating partner on this project. Their mission is to assess community health needs and to facilitate collaborative, community-wide solutions that provide affordable, high quality wellness and accessible health care to all residents of the Mid-Columbia. Nutrition and exercise are the fundamental building blocks of health and wellness, yet obesity and being overweight are becoming an epidemic in America. Poor eating habits and lack of exercise contribute to the development of several diseases including four of Benton and Franklin Counties’ top five causes of death: diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke. The Food and Fitness Coalition addresses the need for food and fitness education and behavior modification among the bi-county population. The Coalition, together with the Public Health District, sponsor forums and community events to help address these issues.

MISC

About Us
Events
Memories
Travel
Links
Misc
Want Ads
Home
About Us Events Memories Travel Links Misc Want Ads Home