Weed-munching goats will clear the way for an extension of the Sound To Olympics Trail in mid-May.
A 100-goat herd from Vashon-based “Rent-A-Ruminant” will be turned loose in a fenced area at the northwest corner of High School Road and SR305, to “mow” the lot clear of ivy and other vegetation.
The goats will arrive May 10 or 11, and will graze for six days. Visitors are invited to watch the goats in action, mindful of nearby traffic and the electrified goat pen.
Once the goats have done their work, the City of Bainbridge Island can begin construction of the STO Sakai Pond Connector, a new non-motorized trail linking High School Road with Sakai Park to the north.
The paved, 10-foot-wide shared-used trail will be the STO Trail’s first new segment on Bainbridge Island since the Winslow Connector opened in 2018 between Winslow Way and High School Road.
The goats are an eco-friendly way to clear the land for trail construction, and have previously been used for vegetation control in Blakely Harbor and Fort Ward parks. They are funded through the Parks Foundation’s Friends of the Sound To Olympics Trail Fund.
STO Sakai Pond Connector trail construction is funded by the City of Bainbridge Island.
Find out more: www.bainbridgewa.gov/1293
