| So far, we have raised $65,000. Although
we have 5 years to ramp up to the full 50%, we will be expected
to pay in the neighborhood of $40,000 - $50,000 per year by then.
We need to raise over a million dollars in order to create a self-perpetuating
endowment fund. If we don’t do this, we’ll be scrounging
for money with which to pay our annual commitment every year.
If some year we fail to meet that commitment, then our contract with
the State will be abandoned and we’ll be right back where we
started.
Foundation Update
With the New Year, we all move on to new things and put others behind
us. But, can we go into the new year and forget that Bridle Trails
State Park was on the verge of being closed not too long ago? I hope
not! Yes, the immediate emergency is behind us. The Foundation has
a 40 year agreement with the State Parks Dept. that says we will contribute
up to 50% of the operating costs of Bridle Trails from now on in exchange
for the State’s promise to keep Bridle Trails open.
Imagine, if you will, if we fail to meet our commitment and the
park is closed. Eventually we could see some 2,000 or more new houses
on what is now a beautiful nature preserve. Add a neighborhood park,
maybe another strip mall, and certainly more light industrial businesses.
Our horse acre properties would probably be rezoned, the horses
would be gone because there would be no place to ride, and the Bridle
Trails name would become meaningless. That’s why we, the residents
of the Bridle Trails Community and the user groups who love it so
dearly, need to step up and help foot the bill. Of the better than
2,000 residents in our community, only about 300 have actually donated
money and a large percentage of those are horse owners or horse
enthusiasts.
Everyone should know that Bridle Trails is not just for horses.
It is open to equestrians and pedestrians alike. It’s a sanctuary
of woodsy smells, quiet solitude (except for the occasional chatter
of a Douglas squirrel), and a great place to get exercise. There
are rules, of course, for the safety of all - no bicycles, and dogs
must be kept on leash at all times. But there are 25 miles of trails
and plenty of room for walkers, runners and riders. There are berries
and mushrooms for picking, if you know what you’re doing,
birds for watching, wildlife like chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits,
coyotes, and the occasional deer.
Because some people have voiced a fear of getting lost, Ranger Mary
Welborn is working on designing a signage system that, while making
the park more user friendly, will not take away from its natural ambiance.
And, there is talk of how and where to build an interpretive trail
where school kids can go for a field trip or adults can learn of the
different mini ecco-systems within our park.
How Can You Help?
Your dollars are necessary to help us raise the money we need to keep
Bridle Trails open for years to come. You can use the form on the
back to send in your tax deductible donations or go to our web site
at www.bridletrails.org.
We will be holding our 2nd annual “Party in the Park”
on Sat., July 10th. There’ll be another fun run (probably
a 10K this time), a pancake breakfast, horse demonstrations, nature
walks, kids’ activities, and a raffle. With several months
to prepare instead of a few weeks, we hope to draw a lot more people
and raise a lot more money. Mark your calendar to join the run or
just enjoy a great pancake breakfast and get to know the park that
stands as the cornerstone of our community.
If you or someone you know plan on buying or selling a house in
the future, consider hiring one of the realtors who have made a
commitment to donate to the Foundation out of their commission as
long as one of the parties asks them to. Coldwell Banker Bain Associates
now has our Foundation on their preferred non-profits list. We would
like to give a big “Thank You” to Coldwell Banker Bain
agents Beth Billington, Bob Guinn, and Wendy Lister, as well as
their corporate office, for their very generous support of our efforts
already. Diane Coates and Rebecca Rodda have also expressed their
willingness to do the same.
Recently, a woman who loves the park, made the Foundation the
beneficiary of her IRA account. There are lots of ways you can help;
a donation in lieu of another store bought gift would be nice, a
donation in memory of a loved one is also a great way to honor them.
Or just keep the Park in mind when you make out your annual charity
donations list. Our web site has a list of companies in our area
like Microsoft, Boeing, etc., who have matching gift programs.
Last year the State imposed parking fees to help reduce operating
costs at all parks. If you buy one at Bridle Trails, it is credited
to Bridle Trails and helps reduce what the Foundation has to pay.
Fees are $5.00/day, or you can buy an annual parking pass from Ranger
Mary for $50.00 and it lets you in all Wa. State Parks for the year
and is still credited to Bridle Trails.
Bridle Trails Park belongs to all of us. Let’s keep it open,
alive and vital for years to come!
Park Gets Long Overdue Upgrade
While the State may turn to our Foundation for help in meeting their
operating budget, there’s a different pot of money they turn
to to fund capital projects. One project that has been on their list
of “needs doing” for many years has been the bleacher
project in our park. The bleachers and judge’s stand were built
in the 50’s by a group of citizen volunteers, but were beginning
to rot to the point where they couldn’t be “fixed”
anymore and were becoming a safety concern. While the Foundation did
not put any money into this project, it is proud to have been able
to leverage its relationship with the Parks Dept. in concert with
Lake Washington Saddle Club to finally get this project off the ground.
There are many hurdles to be cleared prior to King County’s
awarding a building permit. They have, however, allowed some work
to begin such as; the old bleachers were torn down in late October
and work is under way on tearing out and replacing all the old drainage
and water supply pipes from 116th. The County also requires a new
drainage system and A.D.A. upgrades before giving final approval
on the building permit. The work will probably be completed in two
phases: 1). Putting in the bleachers, utilities, and foundation
for the judge’s stand, 2). Building the judge’s stand,
and finishing the site improvements in order to meet A.D.A. requirements.
The Lake Washington Saddle Club puts on more than a dozen horse
shows during the summer months. These events showcase the three
major riding disciplines, Western, Dressage, and Hunter/Jumper as
well as some driving and games. Admission for spectators is free
(accept for parking) and a show schedule will be posted on the bulletin
boards at the horse show facilities prior to the season’s
first show in May.
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