FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

North Kitsap Heritage Park ready for use
Motorized vehicles prohibited

(Port Orchard) –  Thanks to the efforts of its stewardship group, the North Kitsap Heritage Park is now open for walkers, hikers, runners and mountain bikers.

The main entrance to the North Kitsap Heritage Park is located on the east side of Miller Bay Road about a mile north of Indianola Road, and the same distance south of West Kingston Road. The parking area at the Miller Bay Road entrance is open for limited parking and being improved to provide for about 10 vehicles to park safely away from traffic. A kiosk with information including a map will be added at the entrance soon, and the network of trails has been marked and color-coded. The Heritage Park includes 460 acres of second-growth forest with several miles of existing logging roads and new trails built by the stewardship group.

The park will be posted soon with signs at various access points to notify users that county code prohibits motorized vehicles on trails in county parks. The code has been in effect for the heritage park since the county purchased it in 2004. Increased usage by pedestrians and bicyclists has prompted the enforcement of the motorized vehicles ban for safety and environmental reasons. Numerous cases of erosion and damage to terrain caused by motorbikes have been seen and new trails in the process of construction by the stewardship group in sensitive areas have had severe damage due to motorbikes.

For more information regarding the motorized vehicle ban, contact the Kitsap County Department of Parks & Recreation at (360) 337-5350. The North Kitsap Heritage Park Stewardship Group welcomes new volunteers. To volunteer contact for Kitsap County Parks Volunteer Coordinator Lori Raymaker at (360) 337-5372.

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To contact the Public Communications Manager, 
call Doug Bear at 360-337-4598 or email: dbear@co.kitsap.wa.us