The Thorpe Property in Spokane Highlights the Important Role of Community Engagement
Today, Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove joined local leaders and community members to celebrate the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Trust Land Transfer program after the Board of Natural Resources voted to submit six projects, including the Thorpe property in Spokane, to the state legislature for funding.
DNR will submit the prioritized list of properties as part of agency funding requests for the next legislative session. In addition to the Thorpe property, lands are proposed to be transferred to the Yakama Nation and public agencies, including DNR’s Natural Areas Program and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Legislature must fund the transfers before they can be completed.
“This $30 million proposal includes beloved community spaces like Thorpe here in Spokane, a critical addition to a natural area on the Peninsula, and additional funding for the continuation of a land transfer back to Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation,” said Commissioner Upthegrove. “This final list of six projects shows what happens when communities come together to advocate for the spaces that matter to them. I am thrilled to push this proposal to completion in 2027.”
“One of Spokane’s most treasured community assets is its park and natural lands,” said Garrett Jones, director, City of Spokane Parks & Recreation. “Our recent community outreach showed 96% of Spokane residents consider the conservation of natural lands very important, and in listening to that feedback, we support designating this protected natural area in a growing neighborhood for the benefit of future generations. Spokane Parks & Recreation would be honored to care for the Thorpe natural area.
“I am grateful for all the voices who remained committed to keeping the area as conservation land as well as the leadership of Commissioner Upthegrove,” said Paul Dillon, Spokane City Council Member for District 2, which includes the Thorpe property and who sponsored the resolution to pause development in 2024. “The Trust Land Transfer is the only answer that retains this land in public ownership, and I look forward to next steps to address funding strategies and growth challenges so public lands are not for sale.”
This 199-acre Thorpe parcel within the Spokane city limits would be transferred to the city to become a park. This transfer will preserve rare plant communities present on the parcel and provide park services in a neighborhood with limited infrastructure.
The parcel is currently designated to benefit the Common School Trust.
“Transferring the Thorpe property to the City ensures that these lands remain protected while giving Spokane the opportunity to steward them for generations to come,” said Mayor Lisa Brown. “I am grateful to Commissioner Upthegrove and our partners at the Department of Natural Resources for recognizing the value of these lands and working with us to make this transfer possible.”
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MEDIA CONTACT
Michael Kelly
Communications Director
Cell: 360-878-4217
About the Trust Land Transfer Program
The Trust Land Transfer tool is designed to transfer trust lands that produce little or no revenue but provide important ecological values or public benefits. If funded by the Legislature, DNR will transfer these lands to public agencies for conservation or recreation purposes and then replace them with lands better suited to generate money to support school construction and local governments.
The program has existed since 1989 and has conserved more than 130,000 acres of Common School Trust lands that support K-12 school construction statewide. Since 2024, the program has been available for all types of DNR-managed trust lands.
Maps and more information on each proposed Trust Land Transfer parcel are available on the Board of Natural Resources webpage .
