Jackson County ends bid to develop forest land amid pushback
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Volunteers at work. Photo: Courtesy of Bridging The Gap
Jackson County on Monday ended its request seeking development proposals for public land along the Blue River Parkway after residents and conservation groups objected to its potential sale.
Why it matters: The decision is a win for nature advocates, but it leaves open whether the land will be permanently protected from future development.
State of play: County Executive Phil LeVota tells Axios he wouldn't even accept at this point a bid for a puppy sanctuary with unicorns because "it's too big of an uproar."
- "I respect the passion these people have," he says. "I understand they have government distrust."
Catch up quick: In August, LeVota said representatives from the temporarily closed Hillcrest Country Club approached the county about using Blue River Glades land to extend the golf course.
- LeVota moved to solicit bids for the land with a resolution stating "the Administration can identify no current or future use for the property," adding in the meeting that it "has been sitting there empty" for decades.
- The response generated outcry from residents, plus from Bridging the Gap, the Heartland Conservation Alliance and Urban Trail Co., which maintains trails in the Blue River Glades.
Driving the news: In an announcement about ending the bidding process Monday, LeVota said some natural features of the area were never intended for sale and that some of the opposition was spreading "misinformation" that it was already a done deal.
- LeVota added that many volunteers building and maintaining trails on this land did not have authorization or consent from the county, though he did not specify a group.
What they're saying: Trail advocate and nearby resident Sarah Hemme, who helped mobilize opposition, said she's "over the moon" about the result but "extremely disappointed" in LeVota's message.
- Ben Reed, who used to lead the trail nonprofit Urban Trail Co., tells Axios that the organization has an agreement with the county, signed in 2018, that grants Urban Trail Co. volunteers land management permissions.
Context: The county more recently signed a resolution calling for preserving recreational space and improving trail connections along the Blue River Parkway.
- Lots of people use this space, Hemme says, "Whether they're mountain biking, rock climbing, volunteering with an organization that's doing restoration work, hiking, trail running" or foraging.
What we're watching: Hemme wants a law "with more teeth" that can protect Blue River parklands and withstand changes in county leadership.