This is an important meeting from the Kitsap County Parks Department regarding the future of Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park.  More information is below.  Go to this link to sign up:

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Kitsap County News March 5, 2021 Help create a shared vision for the future of Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park Kitsap County Parks invites the public to a virtual community meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 16 to learn more about the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park Master Plan Project and work together to determine a shared vision for the future of the park. This is the first in a series of interactive meetings to explore potential recreational opportunities and provide feedback. Register to attend at http://portgambleforestpark.com or contact Kitsap County Parks at parks@co.kitsap.wa.us or 360-337-5350. “The Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park was over a decade in the making. A park that is the result of a confluence of various community desires – regional trail system, conservation, ride park, etc. The master planning effort will help refine the vision and plot the path forward,” noted Kitsap County Commissioner Rob Gelder. The 3,500-acre county park has 65 miles of volunteer-maintained trails and logging roads and will soon include a 177-acre mountain bike ride park. The Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park Master Plan process, taking place throughout 2021 with a final plan submitted to County Commissioners for approval in early 2022, will review strategies for restoration and protection of natural areas, land management for public access and recreation, and relevant economic benefits and tradeoffs. These strategies will be evaluated while considering community preferences, financial feasibility, easements and land suitability. “Developing master plans for parks is extremely important as it provides a formal way to engage with our community to gather ideas and input, all of which will lead us to a shared vision for the future of the park,” said Kitsap Parks Director Andrew Wisniewski. “The acquisition of the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park was quite an amazing feat and it’s now really exciting to take the next step.” Since acquiring the land in late 2017, Kitsap County Parks has worked to determine the long-term possibilities and uses of the Port Gamble park. The land will continue to undergo changes associated with logging and regeneration over the next several decades. The master planning process is an opportunity for the community to provide input to guide decisions on the management and best uses for the park, both now and into the future. For further information, to register for the meeting and to sign up to receive email notifications on the master plan process, go to http://portgambleforestpark.com. To learn more about Kitsap County parks and stewardship opportunities, go to www.kitsapgov.com/parks. Contact Information Kitsap County Parks at parks@co.kitsap.wa.us or 360-337-5350. Resources Click the links below for more information about County resources. All news releases  |  County Home Page  |  Inclement Weather  |  The Road Report Other Contacts Public Communications Manager Doug Bear 360.337.4598 Commissioner’s Office Rebecca Pirtle 360.337.4650 Kitsap Electronic Notification System Questions? Contact Kitsap1 at 360.337.5777 or help@kitsap1.com www.kitsapgov.com