Local Spokane Stakeholders, Elected Officials Celebrate Major Milestone for Thorpe Natural Area
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) finalized a priority list of 5 Trust Land Transfer projects that they recommend for funding to the State Legislature during the 2027-2029 biennium. For the first time, that list includes the Thorpe Natural Area Trust Land Transfer project proposed for management by the Spokane Department of Parks and Recreation. The next step will be for the Washington Board of Natural Resources to approve the recommended list of projects and then send an approved list of roughly $30 million to the legislature for funding as part of the Trust Land Transfer (TLT) program in the capital budget.
“I thank the broad coalition of Spokane organizations along with many more from across the State for the fierce advocacy for Thorpe, it worked!” said Jeff Lambert, Conservation Chair for the Spokane Mountaineers. “I also thank the TLT Advisory Committee’s high ranking and Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove’s for his decision to recommend Thorpe for funding to the State Legislature.”
The history of the protection of the Thorpe property has been a tumultuous one over the past three years. The property was first put forward as a Trust Land Transfer candidate in 2023 where it was approved along with about 30 other potential parcels. In December of 2024, the outgoing Public Lands Commissioner pushed a competing simultaneous and controversial effort to exchange the Thorpe Property to Blue Fern, LLC for housing development.
The effort was met with a resolution from the Spokane City Council, a public hearing on the proposal attended by 85 community members resulting in 25 oral testimonies and more than 100 written comments opposing the development transfer, and a dozen local media articles chronicled the opposition to developing the Thorpe Property. In the summer of 2025, current Washington Commissioner of Public Lands announced the termination of the Blue Fern Exchange and articulated a two-year moratorium on any additional exchanges for the Thorpe property through summer 2027.
“This is fantastic news, and a win on so many fronts—for public land preservation and wildlife conservation, agency transparency, and for the long-term climate resiliency of the city of Spokane,” said Brian Muegge, Spokane Riverkeeper Board Member and Spokane County Parks Advisory Committee member. ”This news also could not have come at a better time to lift the spirits of our community that has been reeling with the recent fires. Our city and citizenry looks forward to stewarding this parcel in a positive way for future generations of Spokanites and wildlife to enjoy.”
The Thorpe property is located in the Latah Valley within the westerly part of the City of Spokane. The Latah Valley is deficient in parks and conservation land with only one park in the Grandview-Thorpe neighborhood. The Latah Valley has a need for additional parks with playgrounds, water features, picnic shelters, nature education facilities, and an undisturbed biodiverse natural area. The adjoining Fish Lake Trail is a 100-200’ wide corridor that serves as a protected wildlife corridor extending to the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge. Having a city park in this Spokane neighborhood would provide mental health and fitness benefits to the underserved community in the Windsor-Thorpe Neighborhood.
“This is a big win for Impacted communities have clearly voiced opposition to the exchange and remain committed to keeping the area as conservation land. I appreciate Commissioner Upthegrove’s attention and commitment on this issue,” said Paul Dillon, Spokane City Council Member for District 2 which includes the Thorpe property. “We will continue to push our view that TLT is the only answer that retains this land in public ownership that provides increased value for trust beneficiaries while working to address funding strategies and growth challenges so public lands are not for sale.”
The property is within one of two priority areas for conservation acquisitions established in the 2022 Spokane Parks and Natural Lands Master Plan. Community surveys showed 95% of the respondents wanted more natural lands and recreational trails. Additionally, the Spokane Sustainability Plan has goals to preserve and provide access to natural lands for recreation, nature education, scenic views and wildlife habitat.
The DNR Natural Heritage program identified four rare forest habitat types but have not surveyed the wetlands that are the most prominent and rare habitat. The Thorpe parcel represents one of the last intact blocks of ponderosa pine–bunchgrass habitat and seasonal wetlands within Spokane’s city limits and also provides critical habitat for wildlife including Lincoln–Spokane County mule deer herd. Conservationists see Thorpe as a city-owned natural area as part of a designated critical wildlife corridor with trails and a nature education center.
“Thank you to the Advisory Committee and Spokane Parks for their diligence on this incredible opportunity for our community to preserve this precious natural area in our city limits,” said Kirsten Angell, President of Spokane Urban Nature. “We look forward to working with our legislative delegation on providing the necessary funding for this transaction to be completed.”
The TLT proposal for the Thorpe property as a trust land transfer to Spokane Parks has broad support from more than 100 local elected officials, the relevant neighborhood councils, nature and outdoor recreation groups, local businesses and faith leaders statewide, including nearly 50 of those in the Spokane Area alone.
“It has been my pleasure to work with the local community of Spokane elected officials and organizations that have rallied around this important local property,” said Tom Uniack, Executive Director of Washington Wild, a statewide nonprofit conservation organization that works on Trust Land Transfer issues. “The support we have cultivated together is unprecedented for a Trust Land Transfer property and is a testament to the grit and resiliency of the Spokane community.
