Thank you for joining the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition for Recreate 2021. YOU are the reason our local & state parks, trails, habitat, farmlands and forestlands are in good hands. We’re so glad to have you with us!
We are gathering today at Meadowbrook Farm on the ancestral land of the Snoqualmie Tribe. In addition to outstanding views of Mount Si, this park is special because as a WWRP-funded project, it was made possible, in part, by the work of the Coalition.
Make a gift to support Washington’s outdoors today.
SCHEDULE
11:30: Lunch is served
12:00: Program begins
1:00: Guided and self-guided tours of Meadowbrook Farm
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
We are thrilled to welcome Sophia Danenberg as our special guest and keynote speaker. We will be hearing directly from her on why equity and access in the outdoors are important for all Washingtonians.
Sophia is a rock, ice, and mountain climber who, in 2006, became the first black woman and the first African-American to summit Mount Everest. In addition to climbing, she volunteers as a Washington State Parks and Recreation Commissioner, on the board of NatureBridge, an environmental education non-profit operating in national parks, and as a track & field official with Special Olympics. She is also very active in state and local politics, currently serving on the Legislative & Public Affairs committees for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) and the King County Redistricting Committee. Professionally, Sophia leads international environmental policy analysis in Global Enterprise Sustainability at Boeing.
LUNCH MENU
We are so excited and lucky to have Spice Waala cater Recreate 2021. Read more about why we chose Spice Waala here.
Lunch:
Aloo Tikki Roll with a side of Chana Chaat (Fried potato patty roll with side of spicy chickpea salad) (Vegan)
Rajma Chawal (Red kidney bean stew) (V, GF)
Beverages:
Wine from Chateau Ste Michelle
2011 Chardonnay Ethos
2011 Columbia Valley Syrah
Beer by Dru Bru
Windy Shot (IPA)
Hefeweizen (Bavarian Style Wheat Ale)
Kolsch (German Style Golden Ale)
Cider by Finnriver Farm & Cidery
Black Currant (semi-sweet)
Pear (sweet)
Habanero (off-dry)
Dry Hop (off-dry)
Water
Iced Tea
Carbonated water
GROUP WALK TOUR MENU
We are excited to be gathering at Meadowbrook because it provides a great opportunity to see, first-hand, the impact of the work that you’re supporting. We’ve organized a few tour options for you, as well as a self-guided option.
Central Meadow: Mary Norton, President of The Meadowbrook Farm Preservation Association, will lead a scenic tour of part of the Central Meadow, with discussion of the planned Prairie Loop trail continuation. We’ll see the Swing Rock and the old cattle underpass under SR 202, allowing connections to potential new trails, and see how Meadowbrook is part of a vast cross valley corridor of public lands for people and wildlife. On the way back, we’ll stop by Elkhorn, the secret camp where Si View Park’s summer camp kids (future environmentalists and open space advocates) are free to build forts, have play-houses, climb trees and dig in the dirt.
Mary Louie Art Installation: Don Fels, Fall City artist who created the Marie Louie installation at Meadowbrook, will talk about the installation, which honors Mary Louie, an influential Snoqualmie elder who lived nearly a century ago.
Baqwab Prairie Loop Trail: Mike McCarty, a Senior Planner with the City of North Bend, will lead a walk at along a portion of the route of the future Baqwab Prairie Loop Trail on Meadowbrook Farm. Mike will discuss how the Meadowbrook Farm Preservation Association has worked collaboratively with individual volunteers, the City of North Bend, City of Snoqualmie, and Si View Metropolitan Park District to make a number of trail connections happen at Meadowbrook Farm, and discuss the future planning for additional trail connections, including this proposed loop trail. The walk will start at the Snoqualmie Middle School parking lot (at 9200 Railroad Ave. SE), traveling into the Scout Meadow and Camas Meadow. These remote fields are where one can visualize the rich history of the Snoqualmie Prairie, managed for thousands of years by the Snoqualmie people prior to arrival of settlers, which will be an important interpretive part of the proposed trail project. Participants should be prepared for walking through rough grass, as there is no trail at present.
The Interpretive Center: Patricia Fels, the architect of the Interpretive Center, will lead a walk around the building! She will tell the story of how the building was sited, how it evolved, and a bit about the many people who contributed to its completion. The structure was designed to reflect building practices of the local tribes, along with the early white settler barn. There is an important symbolism to the number of beams and light scoops.
Wildlife Corridors of Meadowbrook: Tim Noonan, who is one of the founders of the Preserve and is also currently serving on the Board of The Meadowbrook Farm Preservation Association, will lead an intimate tour of the wildlife corridors and unique environmental locations. Tim’s connection to Meadowbrook goes back to the beginning of the acquisition process in 1994, and before that, as a farm user for recreational use in the 70s.
Dike Road Field to Snoqualmie Valley Trail: Kelly Heintz, who serves on the Board of The Meadowbrook Farm Preservation Association, will lead a walk from the Interpretive Center through the Dike Road Field to the new bridge to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. She will talk about the connections to the regional trail system and the cross valley wildlife corridor of multiple public lands.
How to Make a Park: In the mid-1990s, the historic Meadowbrook Farm was being subdivided and parceled off as developable land. On this walk, explore key points of the park and hear the remarkable story of how The Trust for Public Land worked to ensure that Meadowbrook and nearby Tollgate Park were protected for current and future generations. Leader: Richard Corff, The Trust for Public Land’s Washington Director of Land Conservation
SELF-GUIDED TOUR MENU
The trail system at Meadowbrook Farm offers visitors exciting opportunities to see open meadows with possible soaring hawks, grazing elk, or stealthy coyote, as well as intimate, shady woodlands, and rich wetlands.
Centennial Fields Park: Head toward Meadowbrook entrance and take a left on the paved trail that runs parallel to Boalch. This partially paved, flat trail runs along the edge of Meadowbrook’s Recreation field near Boalch Avenue, crosses a grassy wetland via boardwalk, and goes by the Greenchop Fields along Park Avenue in Snoqualmie. Look for elk in the open fields. Restrooms are available at Centennial Fields Park. The round trip is approximately 1.5 miles.
Mary Louie Art Installation: Head toward the Meadowbrook entrance and take a left on the paved trail that runs parallel to Boalch. Shortly you will be at the Dike Road information kiosk. Carefully cross Boalch Avenue and look for a flat informal, unpaved trail leads through the woods to a hidden meadow with views of Mount Si, and the beautiful art installation commemorating early Snoqualmie medicine woman Mary Louie. Round trip approximately 0.5 miles.
Meadow Loop Trail: This traverses much of Meadowbrook Farm, this trail is initially gravel, then grassy, and returns to the Interpretive Center via the paved trail along Park Street and Boalch Avenue. Follow the gravel trail south along the edge of the woods towards Highway 202. Pause to enjoy the sweeping views of Mount Si! After the meadows, enter the woods, and cross the bridge. (This is the end of the improved trail.) Continue on the rugged path and emerge (go quietly and watch for elk!) into the Camas Meadow. Continue on the grassy path across this meadow, and follow the farm road into the next field. Turn right (towards Mount Si), and follow the grassy path to the paved trail along Park Street at Centennial Fields; continue on this to return to the Interpretive Center. Restrooms available at Centennial Fields Park. Round trip approximately 2.25 miles.
