Nine Acres Donated to Complete Indian Creek Trail Connection
Bird’s-eye view of donated property looking west from Columbia Gorge Community College section towards Broken Tee.
Hood River Valley Parks & Recreation District
HOOD RIVER, Ore. — A major piece of the long-planned Indian Creek Trail connection in Hood River is now in public hands following the donation of nine acres of land that will become part of the trail corridor, according to the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District.
The property donation marks a significant step forward for a project the community has envisioned for nearly 30 years.
According to the parks district, Kenn Francis of PRA/Brookside LLC donated the property to the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District. A conservation easement protecting the future trail corridor also was donated to the City of Hood River, ensuring permanent public access and conservation of the nine-acre parcel.
Francis worked with the parks district for about a year and a half to make the donation possible.
“My wife and I started coming to Hood River in 2013 for the beauty and outdoor activities,” Francis said in a statement released by the parks district. “We fell in love and built a home here soon after. We are excited to be a part of the community and look forward to the completion of the lovely Indian Creek trail.”
From left to right: Christy Christopher, HRVPRD Board President & Foundation Board Member; Abigail Elder, City Manager, City of Hood River; Kenn Francis, Donor, PRA/Brookside, LLC
With the property transfers complete, the project will move into the design and permitting phase. The parks district said it will work with engineers over the coming year to plan the trail and prepare for construction.
Funding for the trail connection also is partially in place. The Hood River Valley Parks & Rec Foundation, a recently formed nonprofit focused on parks, trails and recreation facilities in Hood River County, has raised more than $120,000 through its first fundraising campaign.
The foundation's fundraising will help cover initial design, engineering and permitting costs, according to the parks district.
“Reaching this milestone was truly a team effort that took every partner working together toward the shared goal of completing this much-loved trail,” said Christy Christopher, president of the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District board and an ex-officio foundation board member.
“After nearly 30 years of the community envisioning this trail connection, we’re just a few steps away from it being completed,” Christopher said. “We're incredibly grateful to Kenn Francis, his operating partner Reco Prianto, our donors, and all of our partners who have helped bring us to this exciting moment.”
The completed connection will link two currently separate sections of the Indian Creek Trail, creating more than four miles of continuous pedestrian and bicycle access from downtown Hood River to Barrett Park on the Westside.
The trail also will connect Hood River High School directly with the Columbia Gorge Community College Hood River campus.
The parks district said many existing sections of the trail were secured through easements provided by private property owners. The nine-acre donation is the largest such contribution to the project.
As design work progresses, the parks district and the Hood River Valley Parks & Rec Foundation plan to provide updates and opportunities for community involvement.
The parks district will oversee trail construction and manage the project while also working on its Aquatic Center rebuild. The foundation will continue raising private funds for trail projects.
