Very close to lots of public transportation, including the Link Light Rail. If you drove, park either along Mountain View Drive near the sign for the greenspace or at the dead end of Alaska Place. Parking at the dead end means you get to use the brand new steps created just for Cheasty Greenspace - you'll soon see the sign for the greenspace. The steps are *not* private property. Don't park on S. Columbian Way.
Text from the Friends of Cheasty Greenspace:
"Cheasty Greenspace at Mt. View (CGMV) is a ten-acre urban forest between the Lockmore neighborhood of Beacon Hill and Columbia City. It is part of the Cheasty Greenspace, a 43-acre remnant forest on the mostly steep slope separating Beacon Hill and the Rainier Valley... For many years until 2008, this greenspace provided little in the way of a park-like atmosphere. With darkening-ivy draping its trees, the greenspace housed numerous homeless encampments and hid illicit behavior ... It was a frightening and uninviting place – few people, except a few committed neighbors, visited. In early 2008, volunteers started hosting regular work parties to remove garbage, clear the ivy and blackberry and install native plants. Many volunteer hours later, the majority of the 10-acre site has been restored.
The Hazelnut Trail follows the approximate alignment of the existing informal trail that has developed during the course of restoration efforts. The trail entry is on Mountain View Drive just south of the Alaska Place right-of-way. The trail climbs an initial slope where we recommend six to eight water bars and then takes a loop around the Hazelnut Plateau. This trail will allow users to enjoy the area that has been restored the longest and where native plants are most recovered and abundant."
Several trails are planned as shown on this map. A few of these trails have already been cleared. In your log for this cache, it would be nice if you let us know what stages of restoration you happen to notice during your visit. If you want to help, there continue to be work parties on the 1st Saturday of every month here, from 10 am until noon. Also, simply coming here and hiking the trail will be a very welcome, positive presence for this rejuvenated urban forest.
