April 5, 2016
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tom Teigen
425-388-6617
425-754-9158
The Friends of Heybrook Ridge Provide Critical Donation
Snohomish County Will Create New Recreational Trail
Everett, Snohomish County—The community group “Friends of Heybrook Ridge” (FOHR) has made a significant donation to Snohomish County for phase one of the trail construction project at Heybrook Ridge County Park (HRCP). The park is approximately 144 acres located between the north and south forks of the Skykomish River.
“We couldn’t be more delighted that this extraordinarily generous donation was made to support the development of the trail. For generations to come, our community will enjoy the beauties of Heybrook Ridge, one of the treasures of Snohomish County’s park system,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “A special thanks goes out to the Friends of Heybrook Ridge and President Ann Darlington who made this donation possible. The county is fortunate to have such a committed and visionary group helping us preserve natural spaces.”
The trail construction project is for the development of approximately one and three quarter miles of trail that will take hikers from the Index-Galena Road to the top of Heybrook Ridge. The trail route has an elevation gain of about 780 feet and ends with a commanding view of the Skykomish River Valley, including Mt. Persis to the west, Mt Index and Bridal Veil Falls to the south, and Mt. Baring to the east.
The contract for the phase one trail construction is for $87,237. Snohomish County is contributing $47,237 of that amount, and FOHR is covering the rest ($40,000). The contractor began work on the trail in mid-March and estimates that their work will be completed by early summer 2016. FOHR committed $40,000 towards the project because the trail has always been a critical component of the park development plan.
“Our nearly decade-long partnership with Snohomish County Parks has been an excellent one, full of mutual respect and shared goals. It represents the ideal for local government and the community it serves,” said Ann Darlington, President of the Friends of Heybrook Ridge. “Building this long-awaited trail feels momentous. From here, we can connect this first and main HRCP trail to other regional trails, like the one from Highway 2 to the Forest Service Lookout Tower on top of the Ridge to the east. The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest borders HRCP, and is itself bordered by the Wild Sky Wilderness. We are so very close to becoming ‘The Gateway to the Sky’!”