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As you all know we have a wonderful hiking trail in our own back yard. Friends of Badger Mountain (FOBM) have three annoucments that Applewood homeowners should know about. They are:

1. Annual Meeting & Celebration - Thursday, October 29th

2. Help Repair Badger Trails - Saturday, October 24th

3. Give input to the Benton County Master Plan for Badger Mountain

 

FOBM Annual Meeting & Celebration will be held on Thursday, October 29th at 6:30 pm at the Art Room, Richland Community Center, Howard Amon Park. Come honor their volunteers and learn about their new 5 year strategic plan, how to have input into Benton County's development of a Master Plan for the Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve, upcoming FOBM events, and more.

 

Applewood homeowners can help repair trails on Badger Mountain on October 24, 8 to noon. You can help with some needed maintenance on the Badger Mountain trails. They will be raking gravel that has been kicked off back on to the trail and a few other small repairs. Please let Jim Langdon know that you're coming so he can have tools for everyone. Send him an email at Trailmaster@friendsofbadger.org or phone him at 943-3992. Bring work gloves and be prepared for the weather. They will have tools available but if you can, bring a garden or leaf rake. It is a half day of work so also bring water and snacks.

 

They want your input as Benton County develops a Master Plan for the Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve. When Friends of Badger Mountain (an all volunteer, citizen organization) undertook in 2003 an effort to preserve 574 acres of Badger Mountain they raised the money from the public and from state, county and city sources and by prior arrangement ceded the land to Benton County in whose jurisdiction it lies. Thus Benton County is the owner of what they named as the Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve, while FOBM has the role of steward of the land and trails.

 

Now Benton County is undertaking a management and master planning process for the Preserve. They want to hear thoughtful input from users and advocates on such topics of interest as:

• Dogs in the Preserve

• Restrooms and other trail and trailhead amenities like benches and signage

• Strictness of "on trail" rules/usage and ideas for keeping people on the trails

• Needs for trail remediation

• Future additions to the trail network

 

To give feedback call 736-3053 or, better yet, email parks@co.benton.wa.us or www.friendsofbadger.org. Comments will be incorporated into a draft of the plan and available online for review in early December.