North Bend residents and the Si View Metropolitan Park District celebrated the opening of Tennant Trailhead Park on April 19.
This new park showcases the community’s commitment to preserving green spaces, with trails crafted by the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance.
In 2016, responding to public interest in conserving a 32-acre forest next to Rattlesnake Mountain originally earmarked for homes, the City, Si View Metro Parks, King County Parks, and the Trust for Public Lands teamed up to purchase the land. This area was known as a “park desert,” lacking easy access to green spaces.
“Projects such as this strengthen our government-to-government relationship and offer new opportunities for all of us to learn,” said Mayor Mary Miller, emphasizing the park’s role in conservation and recreation while honoring the Snoqualmie Tribe’s historical ties to the area.
Now publicly owned, the park was funded by the King County Conservation Futures Grant and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. “Together, we have created a community treasure, preserving this site from development and allowing for conservation, recreation and education for all to enjoy,” stated Minna Rudd, Si View recreation manager.
Travis Stombaugh, Si View director, highlighted the collaborative effort: “The expertise of each agency complemented the vision provided by the public, and we now have this extraordinarily unique park straight out your door.”
Tennant Trailhead Park is part of a greenbelt along Interstate 90, linking over 100,000 acres of public land and preserving the scenic view of the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Scenic Byway. Its trails and features were designed with community input and developed through local and county park partnerships.
Warren Jimenez, director of King County Parks, noted, “This project is a prime example of leveraging Parks’ levy funds to create a healthy variety of recreation opportunities, increasing access to this beautiful area.”
The park also honors the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, with trail names in the Lushootseed language and a trailhead kiosk with a pronunciation guide and tribal history. “The Tennant Trailhead Park is about honoring our heritage. By naming the trails in Lushootseed, we connect both our community and visitors with our tribe’s history and culture,” said Chairman Bob de Los Angeles.
The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administered the federal funding for the project. “We are very excited to see the use of tribal language in the park’s interpretive signs,” commented Megan Duffy, director. “The signs are an important part of respecting the long history of tribal stewardship and the important connection tribes have to these lands.”
Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance developed the trail system, which includes a variety of paths suitable for different skill levels and is actively involved in maintaining them through volunteer events. The trail system is open to hikers and mountain bikers and unsuitable for equestrian use, emphasizing the importance of trail etiquette to avoid user conflicts.
The park will soon feature a permanent restroom and a bike repair station thanks to additional funding. In partnership with the King County Department of Natural Resources, the county is also planning a 5.5-mile connector trail to the Raging River State Forest, with construction expected within the next two years.
To learn more about Tennant Trailhead Park or to plan a visit, visit their website at Si View Park or explore the park firsthand with its new trailhead kiosk and directional signs.
[Information provided by the City of North Bend]
