Nearly 10 acres of lush natural growth along Fennel Creek in the City of Bonney Lake has been conserved through a partnership between Pierce County, the City of Bonney Lake and the Cascade Land Conservancy.

The newly acquired site will become the trailhead for the 6-mile Fennel Creek Trail and Naches Trail. Bonney Lake is actively working on the creation of the Fennel Creek Trail, which will link to the regionally important Foothills Trail from Tacoma to Mount Rainier.

The Fennel Creek Trail system will address some of the public need for an extended park system and provide critical open space in a rapidly developing area.

The 9.75 acres of open space are along Fennel Creek in the City of Bonney Lake. The acquisition has been several years in the making with the Conservancy playing a role early in the transaction by engaging the landowner and securing grant funding through the local Pierce County Conservation Futures program and the City of Bonney Lake. The acquisition is the first time the City of Bonney Lake and Pierce County have worked together on the preservation of important natural lands.

Bonney Lake officials praised Pierce County’s efforts in making the transaction possible.
Pierce County and Bonney Lake concluded the negotiations for the property for $680,000. The real estate transaction closed May 22.

“We have been working for years on this project and it is heartening to see it finally become a reality,” said Marian Betzer, a long-time supporter of conservation along Fennel Creek. “This will become a valuable destination place along the Fennel Creek Trail system that I believe our citizens, visitors and future generations will enjoy.”

Mrs. Betzer and many other Bonney Lake residents have been working for years to raise visibility and awareness for the need for protection, preservation, and restoration of the Fennel Creek Watershed and its valuable Pacific Northwest habitats, history, salmon and wildlife.

Since forming in March 2004, the Fennel Creek Preservation Group has participated or partnered with the Puget Sound Partnership, Pierce County, the City of Bonney Lake, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Puyallup River Watershed Council, ForeverGreen, the Foothills Trails Coalition, Stream Team, Cascade Land Conservancy, schools and others.

The group has helped in raising the visibility and awareness of the environmental value of the Fennel Creek Watershed. In May, the group sponsored an environmental learning field trip for 104 Victor Falls Elementary School second graders, showing them the many native plants and habitats in the watershed.

“Our natural beauty, lakes and streams, and friendly people make Bonney Lake a wonderful place to live, work, shop or play,” said Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson. “This property along Fennel Creek will be a great addition to that tradition and serve the citizens of this city as a wonderful natural area.”

“Natural areas are important to making our cities and towns vibrant and livable,” said Ryan Mello, Pierce County Conservation Director for the Conservancy. “We are proud to have played a small part at the beginning of this process and we congratulate Pierce County and Bonney Lake on the successful acquisition of this beautiful area.”

Lavern and Juanita Cimmer, the property owners, were very instrumental in the sale, working with Pierce County in partnership with Cascade Land Conservancy and the City of Bonney Lake.