The Hillside to the Hollow Spring Hike was a huge success. Hundreds of awesome people showed up on a beautiful Saturday morning to do the 2.5 mile hike from Hillside Junior High to Harrison Hollow. During the hike Coalition members Michelle Cooper and Steve Stuebner pointed out areas that are in immediate threat of development as well as the impact of existing developments. Hikers were able to see first hand how public access to previously existing trails had been cut off by unchecked development. Also on the hike were wildlife biologists and a botanist who discussed native plants and wildlife.
After the hike, Jessica Hixson, Michelle Cooper, and Steve Stuebner addressed the hikers and discussed the need to preserve open space, the threats to this area, and the importance of acting now to save it.
“We’ve all heard the phrase a “death by a thousand cuts,” said Michelle Cooper, coalition president, a mother of two who’s been hiking in the area for 15+ years. “Well, that’s what is happening Hillside to the Hollow. We’re losing land and trails incrementally to development, and more projects are coming down the pike.”
The entire Hillside to the Hollow area lies in private ownership. Six different landowners control the property. Because of the landowners’ generosity, the area has been left open to hiking and biking for decades, but that is changing in some areas due to development.
“We lost the Harrison Hollow loop trail because the city didn’t get a trail easement or trail re-route in that area, and the citizens weren’t active enough to push for it,” Cooper said. “Now we’ve lost that trail forever. We can’t let that happen again.”
Coalition member Steve Stuebner, author of “Mountain Biking in Boise,” said the City of Boise has done a great job acquiring open space and trails with the $10 million levy fund. But the Hillside to the Hollow area should be the next big priority with the funds that remain.
“Hillside to the Hollow is the largest and most valuable chunk of open space and trails left that lies immediately adjacent to the city,” Stuebner said. “To have such a great open space and trails area right out our back door is a huge asset in our quality of life. We need to acquire these lands and trails before they’re lost to development forever.”
The unfettered mountaintop on the crest of the Hillside to the Hollow area also defines the backdrop of Boise, Stuebner said. “Preserving the viewshed from the Boise Bench was considered a high priority during the foothills campaign,” he said.
The fragile state of the real estate market right now creates a perfect opportunity for the City of Boise to bear down in negotiations with landowners, Cooper said. “We also want to encourage landowners to step up and consider leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.”
The coalition urged Boise citizens to write Mayor Bieter and the Boise City Council and tell them to acquire open space and trails in the area. They also encouraged people to go to the web site, www.hillsidetothehollow.org, to endorse the campaign and find out what else they can do to help.
T-shirts are in, get yours while they last !
Listen to what residents are saying about the Hillside to the Hollow open space area:
