In the midst of listening to National Public Radio and news of accidental and intentional deaths in the U.S. by guns, I find myself thankful for opportunities to walk in the woods in Heritage Park and the Port Gamble Block of lands that have been available through Olympic Property Group and Kitsap County.

As my mind buzzes with my daily trivial stresses, I am amazed that a mountain bike ride in the Port Gamble Block or Hansville Block of OPG lands clears my head and allows me to see an owl, a fox, and a rabbit all in one outing.

Olympic Property Group/Pope Resources have allowed me to access their land for nearly 22 years. As they are the largest landholder, developer and timber company in Kitsap County, I have found them to be an amazing neighbor. Not only have they allowed me access to walk and bike on their lands, but they have allowed me even to build trails through their timber property. They have been instrumental and the leader in a vision of an open space opportunity for the public in Kitsap County.

Because they are a large landowner and are in the eye of the public, they certainly have received their share of hard knocks, damaging publicity and expensive lessons of public dealings. I, for one, would like to offer a different opinion and say “Thank you” for being an insightful, visionary company and neighbor giving me more opportunities to experience nature in my own backyard.

Lynn Schorn
Kingston