FHNA Board Members took Kirkland City Manager Kurt Triplett on a tour of land adjacent to Juanita Heights Park on June 30th.  There are five parcels for sale by a private landowner and they cover more than eight acres of densely wooded terrain; the forest canopy is healthy and the ground covers are remarkably free of invasive plants.
Kathy Schuler, Bill Blanchard, Scott Morris, Kurt Triplett

Kathy Schuler, Bill Blanchard, Scott Morris, Kurt Triplett

An additional expansion of Juanita Heights Park would anchor the existing wooded areas that still blanket the southern and eastern slopes of Finn Hill. Preserving these open spaces would benefit wildlife and act as a protective measure against landslides, to which Finn Hill is prone.The parcels would also provide another access point for the park and extend the park closer to the foot of Finn Hill, creating the possibility for a footpath from Juanita Beach to the top of the hill. This would be a challenging climb but one that hiking enthusiasts would enjoy.

A path from Juanita Beach through Juanita Heights Park would also serve as a keystone to our neighborhood’s long-term vision of creating a network of trails and paths across Finn Hill. The potential exists for a loop trail around the crown of the hill, which could become a unique regional recreational asset.