“We are witnessing a dream coming true with this trail connection. It really is a culmination of sorts for Greenbelt Land Trust and our community … a big step towards connecting the last pearls of the open space network around the Corvallis/Philomath area.” – Michael Pope, Executive Director.
A new connector trail was unveiled on September 27th, 2014, linking Bald Hill Farm to Fitton Green Natural Area and creating an unbroken trail corridor of over 14 miles. This summer dedicated crews of volunteers worked nearly every weekend to get the connector built under the supervision of experienced trail advisors.
For nearly thirty years this connecting trail has been on Greenbelt’s radar, and in 2013 the organization received a major boost from trails advocates Andrew and Lauralee Martin, who purchased the 170-acre property to hold until GLT has the grant funding needed to acquire the land (estimated that GLT will close on the property through state grant funding in Winter, 2014). In the meantime the Martins granted a trail easement across the property, allowing the trail building to get started. Hear from landowner Lauralee Martin speaking about her motivation to work on trail connections in the mid-Valley at the public unveiling HERE.
Over the last five months volunteers and staff from Greenbelt Land Trust and Benton County and teens from the Northwest Youth Corps worked steadily on a 1.5 mile section of trail. Wielding trail tools like pulaskis and rogue hoes volunteers chipped away at the ridge trail, foot by foot. The trail is now open to the public (closed seasonally November 1 – April 15 to equestrians and bicyclists). See a map of the property below.
Do you want to support Greenbelt’s trail building efforts? Why not make a donation to support our Trails Fund! To make a contribution towards online Click Here and write ‘Trails’ in the comments section, or mail your contribution to: Greenbelt Land Trust – PO Box 1721, Corvallis, OR 97339. Thank you for your support!
“It feel so good to be actually making a trail. I walk out on the trails at Bald Hill Farm nearly every week, and now I get to create a new trail that people will be using for generations to come. How great is that?!” – Trail Volunteer
