Community Environment Government

Great Peninsula Conservancy buys Butterfield Forest, adjacent to Sehmel Park

The Great Peninsula Conservancy bought nearly 21 acres of forest land adjacent to Sehmel Homestead Park, the organization announced on Monday, Nov. 24. 

The conservancy will transfer ownership of the land to the Peninsula Metropolitan Parks District, which will maintain it for conservation and passive recreation. 

The conservancy paid just more than $1.2 million for the three parcels south of Sehmel Park. The bulk of the money came from a Pierce County Conservation Futures grant ($1,089,000) and the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office ($92,623).

The Rotary Club of Gig Harbor and the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula Land Fund, a special fundraising committee of the GPC, also contributed funding.

The Butterfield Forest property includes existing trails and paths. Photo courtesy Great Peninsula Conservancy

Owner created a ‘healthy, diverse forest’

GPC said in its statement that the previous property owner “purchased the land in the 1990s and has worked hard to restore the former timberland into a healthy, diverse forest.” 

Pierce County records indicate that Larry P. Butterfield of Gig Harbor owns the property. GPC refers to the land as the Butterfield Forest, a tribute to the seller’s father, Forrest Butterfield. 

“This project is a perfect example of the power of partnership,” said GPC Executive Director Nathan Daniel said in the news release. “Here we have a willing landowner, a non-profit conservation group, and the local park district all working to protect habitat and provide new opportunities for people to connect with nature. Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula are priority areas for GPC, and we couldn’t be more excited.” 

GPC said the property encompasses more than half a mile of stream frontage, including 1,000 feet of Nelyaly Creek.  

Nathan Daniel, executive director of the Great Peninsula Conservancy, examines a large Douglas fir in the Butterfield Forest. Photo courtesy GPC

Open to the public next year

Under the transfer agreement, PenMet must adhere to requirements outlined in the grants used to buy the property. It can only be used for “passive recreation activities like hiking and nature viewing.” 

PenMet intends to open Butterfield Forest to the public early next year. It will be accessible from Sehmel Park trails, but the park district will retain the Butterfield Forest name. 

Great Peninsula Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust whose mission is to protect open space and habitat on the Great Peninsula, including Kitsap County, North Mason and the Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula area.