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Ground kept unbroken at txʷaalqəł Conservation Area celebration
Under a surprisingly sunny sky, a small crowd gathered at Donkey Creek Park on Saturday, Nov. 23, to celebrate the forever-preservation of two recent additions to the txʷaalqəł Conservation Area. Organizers — including incoming mayor and current council member Mary Barber and Gig Harbor-Key Peninsula Land Fund board member Chris Rurik — called it an “unground”-breaking.
Chris Rurik of the Great Peninsula Conservancy, right, delivers remarks, as incoming mayor Mary Barber, center, and others listen. Photo by Carolyn Bick. © Carolyn Bick
Barber thanked the many members of the public, the land fund, the Key Peninsula-Gig Harbor-Islands (KGI) Watershed Council, and the Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) for making the conservation possible. The recent purchase of what is known as Phase IV of the land brought the total conservation area up to 52 acres. All of the land was acquired without any Gig Harbor city money.
“We were so thrilled we could acquire Phase 4 with no Gig Harbor general fund money spent. In case you can’t tell, that’s a big emphasis for those of us on city council,” Barber said with a laugh.
Barber also presented GPC’s conservation project manager, Ali Querin, with a certificate to acknowledge all the work she put into Phase IV’s purchase. Barber also teased upcoming community work parties to remove invasive plants, like blackberry, from the conservation area.
Incoming mayor and current Gig Harbor council member, Mary Barber, delivers remarks at the txʷaalqəł Conservation Area “unground”-breaking on Nov. 23, 2024. Photo by Carolyn Bick. © Carolyn Bick
“This project will preserve the perfect beauty for generations to come, and we could not be more grateful for the efforts of all who are here today to celebrate,” Barber said.
Rurik also thanked people for their involvement and efforts in the project, and specifically also thanked the Puyallup Tribe and the Gig Harbor Rotary Club. He invited attendees to come down to GPC’s booth at the co-occurring Chum Walk where he would happily “talk your ear off” about the conservation project.