PORT ANGELES — They did it!
City Council member Cherie Kidd counted to three and led Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce members in a chorus of “We did it!” to celebrate a successful fundraiser to keep Hurricane Ridge open seven days a week this winter.
Kidd and chamber Executive Director Russ Veenema presented Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin with a poster-size replica of a $75,000 check signed by the “People of Clallam County.”
Sunday was the deadline to raise the money needed to match a $250,000 appropriation from the U.S. Department of the Interior to keep the road open daily, weather permitting, from late fall through the beginning of spring on a trial basis.
“It’s an exciting time for the community, and it’s such a great example of community outreach and people working together and doing some great things, so thank you,” Gustin said.
The 17-mile road from Port Angeles to the popular ski and snowplay area is only open from Friday through Sunday and on some holidays in the winter.
The road is open daily during the summer.
Clallam County and the city of Port Angeles each contributed $20,000 to the cause.
The county used lodging tax revenue.
The city turned to its economic development fund.
The city of Sequim contributed another $5,000, with local businesses and individuals covering the rest.
Brian Coughenour, Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club Educational Foundation president, said the club received $15,947.04 in contributions by Monday, with another $673 in pledges.
“The money keeps rolling in,” Coughenour said.
About half of the money raised by the ski club came from a private fundraiser of the North by Northwest Surf Shop, Coughenour said.
Kidd said the total amount of in-hand contributions and still-to-be collected pledges is about $76,670 — enough, she believes, to cover the full $75,000 if some of the pledges don’t turn to cash.
The fundraising committee will decide later what to do if there is any extra money.
The money collected can only be spent on keeping the Ridge road open.
The campaign began last March when Kidd and fellow city council members Dan Di Guilio and Pat Downey lobbied U.S. Rep Norm Dicks, who represents the North Olympic Peninsula in Congress, for federal funds to keep the road open daily.
The idea was to bring more tourists to the area through increased access to the Ridge.
Armed with a petition of more than 500 signatures from members of the ski club, Port Angeles Business Association and chamber, the city delegation persuaded Dicks to request a $400,000 appropriation in the 2011 budget.
To keep the Ridge road open this winter, the delegation then secured $250,000 from Interior.
But the National Park Service said it would cost $325,000 to plow the road and parking areas and to hire staff for the information center — and Kidd and others in the community began the campaign to raise the additional $75,000.
“We said this community wants it, this community will do it,” Kidd told chamber members and guests gathered at the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant.
“We had six weeks to come up with the matching funds — and, boy, I have a big smile on my face today!”
Later on Monday, she added:
“I was so impressed with everybody that pulled together!”
Interior’s trial period for the seven-day-per week access to Hurricane Ridge will extend over two to three years. Interior has said it will fund the additional snow plowing and road maintenance after the trial period if the Ridge garners enough weekday visits.
But another $75,000 would have be met in 2011 to keep the trial going, and again in 2012 if it lasts three years.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
