Minnehaha Rocks Clean-Up May 18, Saturday

[Steve_Reynolds]

Saturday, May 18 is Spokane Minnehaha Rocks - Beacon Hill Clean-Up Day. I realize there is another clean-up effort at Index on the same day, and I don't want to detract from that. But for those of you who may be in Spokane or on the east side that weekend, this will be a great opportunity to meet up with the rest of the Inland Northwest outdoor community, help clean up Spokane's most popular climbing spot and one of its most popular mountain biking areas, eat some good food, maybe get some free prizes, and to benefit the overall project by bidding on outdoor gear for cheap and buying a commemorative T-shirt. After work and some fun, we'll play. I have 8.5" x 11" flyers in pdf format for anyone wanting to post them--feel free to email me. A quick history of the situation, and details:

 

Minnehaha Rocks has been used for climbing for more than half a century, and in 1989 was established as John Shields Park by both Spokane County and City. It is used as a trailhead by mountain bikers riding up Beacon Hill, and by others recreating on the Centennial Trail adjacent to the Spokane River. A mostly natural area in the midst of an urban setting, the area has suffered over a long period of time due to vandalism and garbage dumping. Destructive activities (including anchor vandalism, graffiti, and soot from partier's fires at the base of popular routes) have escalated recently, thus the call to action and to reverse the trend for both the short- and long-term future.

 

Clean-Up Day work activities:

·Removal of garbage from John Shields Park and Beacon Hill--bags provided, needed are people with trucks, shovels, rakes, gloves

·Sandblasting of climbing rocks to erase paint and soot

·Erection of a kiosk or sign at main entrance to park

·Minimal trail maintenance

 

This will be more than a "work day;" this is a celebration of the Inland Northwest outdoor community and we'll be conducting a number of fun activities for the volunteers:

·Free BBQ lunch provided by Mountain Gear and Omega Pacific

·Drawing of prizes for volunteers, from Mountain Gear and Omega Pacific

·Silent Auction of outdoor items to benefit improvements for the park, from Mountain Gear and Omega Pacific

·T-Shirts for sale to benefit the park

 

This will become an annual affair. More importantly, WSU's School of Landscape Architecture will be establishing a Master Plan for the rocks and Beacon Hill for long-term planning. Input will be needed from all user groups--climbers, mountain bikers, hikers, Centennial Trail users, city, county, and others--by this upcoming fall. I have regularly climbed at Minne, and infrequently biked and run up Beacon Hill, for the past 20 years. While graffiti and garbage have always been a problem out at Minnehaha, last year was especially bad. With the community coming together to clean up and make appropriate improvements at the park and on the hill, we'll reclaim our valuable resource from those using it destructively. A clean-up project of this magnitude has not been seen here before: it will improve the park and area for the short- and long-term future, and make it a much more desirable area to recreate.

 

Sponsors, donors, and volunteers to thank and congratulate, and help still needed:

 

Primary Sponsors:

Spokane Mountaineers

Mountain Gear

Omega Pacific

 

Donors so far:

United Rentals--for approx. $1,000 worth of sandblasting equipment rental

Northwest Sandblast and Paint--for approx. $300 worth of sand for the blasting

Mountain Goat--for approx. $100 worth of hardware to replace vandalized and old anchor bolts

Washington State Parks and Friends of the Centennial Trail--for the 4x8 kiosk/sign to be erected

Access Fund--support and volunteer prizes

Kelsey Loughlin--T-shirt design and coordination

WSU School of Landscape Architecture/Interdisciplinary Design Institute

 

Coordinating Agencies:

Spokane County Parks Dept.

Spokane City Parks Dept.

Washington State Parks Dept.

 

HELP STILL NEEDED:

Short-term/Clean-Up Day:

LOTS AND LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS TO SHOW UP AT 8:00 AM, SATURDAY, MAY 18!

Professional Sign Company for a half dozen signs to be made, and will be placed around rock climbing areas

Leaders who know the hill to coordinate volunteers for garbage pick-up

 

Long-term:

Establishment of a point of contact for the mountain biking community to collect input for future plans

Identification of illegal access points so we can take appropriate steps to stop dumping, etc.

Research to identify private and public property around Shields Park and for mtn biking trails

Title company to do possible pro bono title search for Shields Park and other identified public property

 

Thanks for your help, and we look forward to seeing you.

 

Steve Reynolds