Beacon Hill Trail System Draft Concept Plan May 2009 Beacon Hill Trail System Draft Concept Plan • February 2009 Acknowledgments Lead Organization Northeast Community Fat Tire Trail Riders Club Center Land Managers and Owners Spokane City Parks and Recreation Avista Department Matt and Cory Collin Spokane City Bicycle Pete Rayner Advisory Board Spokane Parks and Recreation Department Spokane County - Engineering Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf Department Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf Brian Walker, Tomlinson NAI Spokane Mountaineers Molly and Phil Zammit Spokane Regional Health District Beacon Hill Advisory Group Washington State University Avista Washington State Department of Transportation Beacon Hill Events Center, Pete Rayner West Valley School District Fat Tire Trail Riders Club Spokane Police Inland Northwest Trails Coalition Charrette Sponsors International Mountain Bicycling Association Safeway Minnehaha Neighborhood Council Starbucks Mountain Gear Northeast Community Center Fitness Fanatics REI Dr. Ed Jones Spokane Parks & Recreation Department Bicycle Butler Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf Department Instant Benefits Spokane Regional Health District Cache Advance WheelSport East Out There Monthly Winterport Ski Shop Mountain Gear Molly and Phil Zammit, Private Landowners REI Organizations that Participated in the Wheel Sport East & Wheel Sport South Charrette Vince Poff, Specialized Bikes American Society of Landscape Architects (Washington North Division Bike and Ski Chapter) Technical Assistance American Society of Landscape Architects (Idaho-Montana Planning for the trail system and production of this Chapter) document were provided, upon request, through a grant by Beacon Hill Event Center the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Eastern Washington Orienteering Club Assistance Program. Fat Tire Trail Riders Club Graphic Design Friends of the Centennial Trail Doug Minor Hillyard Business District Ted Moon Hillyard Steering Committee Maps produced by: Inland Northwest Trails Coalition Jon Stanley International Mountain Bicycling Association Spokane County GIS Department Minnehaha Neighborhood Council Assistance from Kerry Brooks PhD., WSU National Park Service – Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance from Monica Spicker MEd., Natural Resources Assistance Program Program, Spokane Community College 1 Executive Summary The Beacon Hill Trail System (System) is a popular and frequently-visited recreational and natural resource located near the center of the metropolitan Spokane Area. The System encompasses a mix of public and private lands covering over 1000-acres. This Draft Beacon Hill Trail System Plan (Plan) seeks to provide a vision and a guide for the formal recognition of the trails. The present extent and configuration of the trails are threatened by development of private lands both adjacent to and within the existing System. One of the Plan’s goals is to seek formal recognition of the trails that are located on private lands and secure permanent landowner approval for continued public use of those trails. Another of the Plan’s goals is to map and rate all trails within the system. This Plan outlines a vision for the System and identifies potential maintenance needs, potential new trail locations, trails that may be suitable for decommissioning and removal, trailhead improvements, potential recreation opportunities, creation of an outdoor recreation center and connections to the surrounding communities. The plan also looks at alternative transportation options for users of Beacon Hill and integration with the Spokane area bus and trail systems. The Plan also identifies potential partners also expressed their concern to have that use more closely that will collaborate on the System’s development and monitored to minimize public encroachment on those management. portions of their lands outside of the permitted trails. The System provides important recreational and natural The Committee has received invaluable guidance connections to many adjoining neighborhoods: Hillyard, through a technical assistance grant provided by the Minnehaha, Pasadena Park, Northwood and Valley Springs. Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program The Beacon Hill Plan Advisory Committee (Committee) administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The has endeavored to include those neighbors in the Plan Committee has had the benefit of the experiences of other development process. Engagement of the larger community communities also using this program in their plan-creation was also sought through a survey, website postings and process. The System has the opportunity to become public meetings. Public agencies have also participated integrated into future private developments and public in the Plan’s development. The Spokane City Parks and facility improvements. A design charrette hosted by the Recreation and Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Washington Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Golf Departments own or control significant portions of the Architects (ASLA) and NPS resulted in the creation of lands on which the System is situated. Avista Utilities is a a number of exciting concepts and potential features of major landowner and has been an enthusiastic supporter regional significance. The work product also identified of the Plan and System. All have contributed time and possible projects that could serve as enhancements to the resources to the Plan’s creation. quality of life for residents of the Inland Northwest. Private landowners comprise the major portion of The Beacon Hill Trail System exemplifies the spirit of ownerships within the System. Many have expressed their “Near Nature, Near Perfect”. The Plan hopes to serve as the support and desire to participate in the Plan process and blueprint for maintaining and preserving the outstanding to continue to allow public use of their lands. They have resource that now exists. 2 Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................................................................2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................................4 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................6 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................................................6 THE PLANNING PROCESS AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ....................................................................................................6 VISION, GOALS AND BENEFITS ......................................................................................................................10 VISION STATEMENT ..................................................................................................................................................10 GOALS ....................................................................................................................................................................10 BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY ..................................................................................................................................10 HISTORIC AND NATURAL RESOURCES .......................................................................................................11 NATURAL RESOURCES ..............................................................................................................................................11 LAND OWNERSHIP AND PRIVATE LANDS ...................................................................................................13 TRAIL SYSTEM, RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, TRAILHEADS AND LINKAGES ..........................14 TRAIL SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT ..................................................................................................................................14 RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AND DESIGNATED USE AREAS ........................................................................................15 PARKING AREAS, TRAILHEADS & PULL-OUTS .............................................................................................................17 LINKAGES, COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION ................................................................22 TRAIL DESIGN GUIDELINES AND ETIQUETTE ..........................................................................................25 ALLOWABLE USES ...................................................................................................................................................25 TRAIL ETIQUETTE. ...................................................................................................................................................25 SUSTAINABLE TRAILS ...............................................................................................................................................25 INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION ............................................................................................................26 GENERAL INTERPRETIVE THEMES ..............................................................................................................................26 PLACE-BASED THEMES .............................................................................................................................................26