Make Beacon Hill Public Project

This project was developed in partnership with the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department, Evergreen (East) Mountain Bike Alliance, Inland NW 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.

Project Update (5/14/21):
The City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department through the Conservation Futures Program closed on the Paras and Collin properties (approximately 40 acres total) on 7/30/20. These first two acquisitions preserve a majority of the upper portion of the downhill mountain bike course and connected two City-owned parcels. The Combs and Banta properties (totaling ~81 acres) is under contract (i.e. Purchase and Sale Agreement) contingent upon receiving grant funding.

City of Spokane and Spokane County parks staff have completed the Washington State Recreation & Conservation Office (RCO) grant application process and have received preliminary rankings for the two grant applications (Land and Water Conservation Fund) and Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (Local Parks)) -  see below for preliminary rankings. The Washington State Legislature will receive these lists (once finalized) for funding consideration as part of the 2021-2023 Biennium State Capital Budget.

Project Documents:

RCO Grant Presentation
RCO Preliminary Grant Application Rankings LWCF
RCO Preliminary Grant Application Rankings WWRP-Local Parks
Proposed Acquisition Map
Conceptual (Future) Site Plan
Staff Report to Board of County Commissioners
Resolution Approving Concept (Board of County Commissioners)
Letters of Support