We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of the 467-acre Divide Community Forest, a strategic land conservation project in north Kitsap County that preserves critical wildlife habitat and supports planned regional trail connectivity. Now permanently protected, the land will offer a significant conservation and recreational resource for Kitsap County.
“The protection of the Divide Community Forest represents a pivotal moment for Great Peninsula Conservancy,” says Nathan Daniel, GPC Executive Director. “In our 25-year history, this is the single largest land acquisition we’ve undertaken, marking a significant milestone in our organizational journey and a huge leap forward for regional conservation. By protecting these 467 acres, we’re preserving critical wildlife habitat, creating a lasting legacy for Kitsap County, and demonstrating the power of collaborative conservation.”
The property is the final large parcel necessary to complete a more than 5,000-acre wildlife corridor spanning the Kitsap Peninsula from the Hood Canal to Puget Sound’s Central Basin. The project marks the successful culmination of the two-decades-long Kitsap Forest & Bay Project, which has been a collaborative effort of more than 30 community groups to protect the natural character of north Kitsap County and retain lands for habitat, recreation, and cultural heritage.
“We are grateful for the collaboration with Great Peninsula Conservancy to complete the String of Pearls,” says Jon Rose, Raydient’s VP of Real Estate. “GPC has worked for over 10 years to find a path to ownership. Their tenacity, strength, and sophistication are an asset to the region.”
With the protection of the Divide Community Forest, the coalition has now protected Kitsap County’s 799-acre North Kitsap Heritage Park, Great Peninsula Conservancy’s 320-acre Grovers Creek Preserve, and Kitsap County’s 3,493-acre Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park, along with a number of smaller parcels.
Purchased for $6.34 million, the project was funded from several sources, including a $2.9 million grant from the State RCO Community Forest Program, a $2 million grant from Kitsap Conservation Futures, several major donations from private individuals, and a loan from the Washington Opportunity Fund. GPC is thankful for the Kitsap County Commissioners for supporting the project. This Conservation Futures funding was essential and GPC very much appreciates the Commissioners for their vision and understanding of the importance of protecting this wildlife habitat. GPC also thanks Deputy County Administrator Eric Baker for all of the hard work he and his team put in to ensure the project was completed successfully. Kitsap County has been and continues to be an important partner in our conservation mission.
In 2025, GPC will launch a project campaign to raise $1 million to secure the funding gap and pay off the loan. “Time was of the essence to complete this project in 2024. We now look forward to working with the community, including dozens of organizations and hundreds of local residents who care deeply about protecting the natural character of our home. Together, we will raise the funds necessary to fully complete the project,” says Daniel.
The Divide property is slated to become a community forest managed by GPC. It includes a section of the future route of the Sound to Olympics Trail, connecting the Mountains to Sound Greenway with the Olympic Discovery Trail. “Conserving The Divide property as a habitat corridor with the Sound to Olympics Trail will allow people of all ages and abilities to appreciate nature for generations to come, whether on foot, bike, horse, or wheelchair,” says Judy and Don Willott, founding members of the Kitsap Forest & Bay Coalition. “And, it will connect Kitsap residents to Washington, D. C. and La Push as part of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Great American Rail-Trail.”
The acquisition received letters of support from the Suquamish, Port Gamble S’Klallam, and Skokomish Tribes, as well as the North Kitsap Trails Association, among others. “I want to thank Kitsap County Commissioner Christine Rolfes, as she played an instrumental role in securing $4.8 million in state and county funding for the project,” said Daniel.
Historically part of Pope Resources’ ownership (now Rayonier), this closing represents the final piece of Pope Resources’ commitment to community land conservation. Over 5,000 acres of former Pope Resources land are now owned by Kitsap County and Great Peninsula Conservancy. Additionally, 800 acres have been sold to the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe to expand their reservation.
“The creation of a 5,000-acre system of land and water trails that connects all of North Kitsap communities has had the additional benefit of eliminating over 250 residential lots throughout our rural areas while at the same time helping to augment North Kitsap’s tourism economy,” added Rose.
GPC plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the spring of 2025 and will hold a series of open meetings with interested community members to develop a comprehensive management plan, including plans for potential trail development.
For more information, reach out to Samantha Hale, Communications Manager, samantha@greatpeninsula.org, 360-373-3500 ext. 108 or or Nathan Daniel, Executive Director, nate@greatpeninsula.org, 360-373-3500 ext. 101.