Fitch Mountain Park moves forward

Ownership of the forested hill known as Fitch Mountain passed to LandPaths on Nov. 26, two years after the historic deal was announced to save the 200-acre parcel above Healdsburg.

For the next three years, the land stewardship organization will work jointly with the Healdsburg community to develop a fire safety plan, build hiking trails and remove invasive species. At that time, ownership will pass to the City of Healdsburg and the parcel will be opened to the public.

The Fitch Mountain deal was announced in 2012, but challenges with encroachment of property lines caused delays. The Agriculture Preservation and Open Space District continues to work on resolving issues with the 20 acres in question.

Landpaths is gathering names of people who want to become involved with the park, said Executive Director Craig Anderson. They will create trails, remove invasive broom and work with Healdsburg Fire Chief Steve Adams to formulate the fire safety plan. In addition, they will develop an interim access plan for monitors and volunteers.

“There is no legal, usable trail at the current time,” said Anderson. “We are bound by legal constraints to make the improvements for wild land and neighborhood safety, as well as that of visitors.”

Meanwhile, Fitch Mountain Park supporters Laura Tietz and Ray Holley have developed the Fitch Mountain Fund, raising a little over $63,000 to date. Holley said a dozen or so private donors have stepped forward to add to the fund, in amounts ranging from $50 to $25,000. He hopes to raise $2 million over 10 years for a park endowment.

“(Fourth District Supervisor Mike McGuire) cajoled, threatened and forced this deal through,” said Holley. “Now we need to fund it. I’d like to take the burden off the taxpayers for the park, and endowment will do that.”

Holley and a group of supporters presented McGuire with a bottle of the finest “Fitch Mountain Park soil” to take with him to Sacramento, where he will begin serving as a state legislator in January.

To donate to the Fitch Mountain Fund, visit Community Foundation Sonoma County at sonomacf.org or email rayholley@gmail.com.

Contact Healdsburg Towns Correspondent Ann Carranza at Healdsburg.Towns@gmail.com.