The Natural Open Space Committee (NOSC) is close to adopting an overall Master Natural Open Space Management Plan, which will include the Tubbs Hill Management Plan. Parks has been updating the Tubbs Hill Management Plan, and THF has provided input. However, the proposed update contains language about proposed construction of a trail on the north side of Tubbs that was slipped in without our approval.

Rather than interpret the proposals, we will simply share them with you as they are written. Under the section entitled "Recommended Management Actions," the new Tubbs Hill Management Plan proposed by Parks states that the Parks Department "needs to take the following actions." The first action item noted is "Improve the Existing Trail from City Hall." In the discussion of that proposed action item, it is stated that, "a trailhead located near City Hall may be developed as part of the McEuen Field redesign." Among the steps listed to improve this trail is "rerouting the upper half of the trail with a reasonable grade and connecting it to the main loop trail near marker 25." In another section under Public Services, Parks recommends that a trailhead should be built near the City Hall, which may be created as a part of the redevelopment of McEuen Field. Among other items, the trailhead parking lot would have a "number of handicapped parking spaces as determined by ADA standards."

Last year, THF vigorously opposed all improvements proposed by Team McEuen for Tubbs Hill. The board insisted that Tubbs Hill be removed from the McEuen project. Subsequently the City Council voted to remove Tubbs Hill from ANY FURTHER CONSIDERATION as a part of the McEuen plan.

Unfortunately, some of the very impactful changes to Tubbs that were linked to the McEuen Plan, and removed by the City Council, have now quietly reappeared in the Tubbs Hill Management Plan under the direction of the Parks Department. The NOSC is in the final stages of approving the Master Natural Open Space Management Plan, with the attached Tubbs Hill Plan, for the purpose of recommending the entire package to the City Council for approval. If approved by the City Council as is, the north side of Tubbs Hill will be permanently and irreversibly altered.

THF wants to be very clear that our position in separating Tubbs from McEuen is "leave Tubbs alone," and we need to be very clear that our position has not changed. Now is not the time to be considering any proposed construction of a major new trail across the north face of Tubbs.

At the regular THF Board meeting on May 10, the members present voted unanimously to accept and present the following resolution to the Open Space Committee:

This resolution follows:

THF opposes any language in the Tubbs Hill Management Plan that refers to the north side of Tubbs Hill. This includes, but is not limited to, any proposed construction of a new trail, realigning of any existing trails, construction of a new trailhead at the city parking lot or other trail encroachments across the north face of Tubbs Hill.

If you believe that Tubbs should be left alone, then we urge you to call your City Council and/or attend the council meetings to voice your opinion. We have our Tubbs Hill of today because community members of yesterday stood up and spoke and took action. To learn more about Tubbs Hill and to see our current newsletter, go to our website: www.tubbshill.org.

Jennifer Johnson is president of the Tubbs Hill Foundation board.