Forum: County plan for Lord Hill park works, except for parking

Published 1:30 am Saturday, August 5, 2023

By Pat Pehling / Herald Forum

Lord Hill Regional Park, southeast of Snohomish, is an amazing asset to those of us who enjoy a quiet, natural experience.

There have been some conflicts among user groups, but I think the low-cost mitigation that the Snohomish County Parks and Recreation office has done has been very effective and has cut down on high speed bike encounters. I haven’t had an unpleasant experience for months and the mountain bikers I’ve encountered have been very respectful of my requests to stop to let my horse and me pass. The planned added signage and a new map will both add to the positive experience. Current changes are low cost and do exactly what the Equestrian community has requested to make the park a safer experience for all.

I am, however, very disappointed that the many assurances I’ve been given for years by Parks Director Tom Tiegan that we would never lose our equestrian parking lot have not been honored. Switching parking lots will cost a great deal of taxpayers’ dollars, a waste of public funds since the current equestrian parking lot works well. A portion of those funds would be better used in the current north hiker and cyclist lot to create additional parking, which is obviously needed.

This preferred plan gives no assurance that equestrians would have the same number of parking places (currently 12) available saying that “potential amenities will be considered,” which includes “preserving parking capacity” and “options for best parking approach.”

The current open parking configuration allows for any size of trailers. Some of us have two or three horse trailers, but there are also equestrian users who have trailers holding up to 12 horses. Moving to the north lot would require a great amount of design, grading and gravel, needing public funds to create a suitable parking area.

I’m also very disappointed that equestrians would lose the option of the shortest route to the equestrian and hiking trails and the option of a loop ride since horses would be prohibited on the nice level main trail directly out of the white gate at the current equestrian parking lot.

It has great visibility for on-coming traffic whereas the pipeline with its hills and switchbacks (and very tall grass) has more potential for bikes suddenly appearing and is very slick and muddy during the winter months. Also, the new trail that equestrians would be expected to use will not hold up during our wetter winter months unless a great deal of preparation and gravel is planned; another added tax-payer expense.

This is certainly not the “preferred plan” we expected after so many meetings with the parks department!

Pat Pehling lives in Snohomish.