The Hill Tract

We did it!
Challenge grant raises final funds

A heartfelt thanks to all of you who helped us meet the matching grant from the James Stephen Turner Family Foundation to purchase the Hill Property, with its ancient forest.

The outpouring of support for the acquisition of this unique property has been overwhelming, and has proved over and over again how big your hearts are, how much you value the Warner Parks, and how important it is to you that the ancient forest be saved for future generations.

It is quite gratifying to know how many of you wanted some ownership of this project, and each of you gave what you could to help us over the top. As outstanding pledges are paid, we will be able to pay off our bank loan and then convey the Hill Property to the City for inclusion in the Warner Parks.

Together, as a community, we achieved what none of us alone could do. It is a crowning achievement!

What happens next

Many people have expressed an interest in knowing when the land can actually be used by the public. The process will be as follows:

• Even though we have reached our Phase II goal, much of the money is in pledges. Until all outstanding pledges come in, and the loan is completely paid off, we can not turn the land over to the Metro Board of Parks and Recreation.
• When the city does take ownership of the property, it will call for a Master Plan to be developed, not only for the 324-acre Hill property containing the ancient forest, but also for the 124 acres Friends of Warner Parks acquired along Highway 100 in Phase I of the capital campaign.
• The Master Plan for the total 448 acres will include one or more public meetings, and other opportunities for public input. This will be announced in the media and everyone will be encouraged to attend including individuals, recreation interest groups, and others.
• Everyone wants to take special care of the ancient forest. Accordingly, Friends of Warner Parks has appointed a committee of professional people, all experts in the field of forestry and natural areas. They will make recommendations to the master planners as to the best way to protect and exercise stewardship over the ancient forest, and at the same time allow the public access to the centuries-old trees.

Bioblitz inventories species

We have always known that the “ancient forest” was a treasure in and of itself, but we have not known what treasures it contained until just recently. Dwayne Estes, an assistant professor of biology, descended on the 324-acre site with a group of students and other professional volunteers. They documented every single plant, tree, shrub, grass, bird and animal spotted, including this flying squirrel. It was a true BIOBLITZ, and the forest yielded up its inventory of treasures, confirming that the educational aspects of this site are both rich and unending.