Cautiously optimistic about changes to their beloved Scouter Mountain, some 75 Happy Valley residents attended an on-site community picnic hosted by Metro last week.
Earlier this year, Metro purchased nearly 100 acres of land, mostly from the Boy Scouts of America. The new Scouter Mountain Natural Area, which will feature hiking trails, a picnic shelter, parking and restrooms, was purchased by Metro’s voter-approved Natural Areas Program. The City of Happy Valley is paying for the upgrades with its share of Metro’s natural areas bond measure, and the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District will manage the future natural area when it opens in 2013.
Overlooking Happy Valley with a jaw-dropping view of Mount Hood, Scouter Mountain once had an uncertain future.
"We were just thrilled to hear that Metro got it because we heard that it might be developed," said Jeannine Smith, who lives steps from the property.
Scouter Mountain was a top priority for the Natural Areas Program, Metro scientist Kate Holleran told the crowd at the Aug. 18 picnic. "It was identified as a special place that was under threat because the Scouts were looking at some alternative uses, as many nonprofits have to do these days," explained Holleran, who thanked the Boy Scouts for their good stewardship of the property.
"I’m so pleased we’ve been able to save this land, and not have it be developed, for the future generations," said Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick, who represents the east side of the region.
Purchased for $2.1 million, the protected forest will get a facelift of sorts. Metro, Happy Valley and the parks district will collaborate on trail and shelter designs and future use of the natural area.
At the picnic, residents gave their input.
"Our property backs against Metro’s property, and I’m concerned about trails going right in our back yard. So I wondered about access going through our neighborhood, which doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen," said Bev Reed, holding her one-year-old son.
Mostly, people expressed excitement about keeping nature nearby despite having to say goodbye to Chief Obie Lodge, a history-rich gathering point that had been closed since 2004 because of fire safety issues. Because the lodge would cost $8 million to restore, the Boy Scouts instead removed the 22,000-square-foot building earlier this year.
"It was a huge disappointment to know they were going to have to take the lodge down. We knew that was going to happen, but I didn’t know it had happened!" added Smith, the next-door neighbor, whose kids grew up playing on the grounds.
Project partners assured neighbors that parts from the old lodge will be reused to construct the new shelter. They also provided a timeline of two years before the work is complete and the new natural area is open to the public.
"Kids enjoy nature. They’ve got plenty of time to play on play structures and plenty of time for organized sports, but they don’t have enough time to enjoy nature. That’s what we need and that’s what this place is going to provide," said Michael Morrow, Chairman of the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District Advisory Board and a Happy Valley city councilor.
Smith, who said she enjoyed the picnic and appreciated voters’ foresight to preserve nature, lamented the two-year wait to enjoy this new natural area – "but it’s pretty exciting to think about 2013."