A woman who helped preserve “a sacred cherished place that defines the very character of the Tri-Cities” for public recreation and enjoyment is the 2024 Tri-Citian of the Year.

Sharon Grant, a longtime Friends of Badger Mountain leader, received the award on April 25 during a banquet at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

She didn’t know she was the winner until her name was announced, per tradition.

But she’s a natural choice for the award that honors a person or people who embody the concept of “service above self.” A group of 31 community leaders nominated Grant.

“Her legacy is a singular showcase: a free, public park with wide open spaces and remarkable expansive views; a sacred cherished place that defines the very character of the Tri-Cities, promotes fitness, healthy lifestyles and stewardship for the benefit of all who live in and visit the area,” they wrote in the nomination.

The nominators included several past winners and local conservation leaders.

Grant’s advocacy for Badger Mountain dates to at least 2000, when she and other members of the Inter-Mountain Alpine Club became concerned with the “no trespassing” signs going up on Badger and another nearby peak and formed a committee to explore local access issues. The group, led by Grant and others, drafted a “Ridge Preservation and Trail Vision” that imagined free public access to and between the area’s ridges.

A few years later, the group learned that a key Badger property was on the market, and they formed the nonprofit Friends of Badger Mountain. Their idea was to persuade Benton County commissioners to buy the land for preservation.

“For Sharon, this goal became a near obsession. She coordinated meeting after meeting. Her ideas and enthusiasm gained traction and support. She met with local, state and federal government agency officials, elected representatives and numerous organizations and companies uniting people and gaining their cooperation and commitment,” the nomination said. Her efforts paid off, the nomination added, and the county eventually bought that land and more using money secured by Friends of Badger Mountain.

Today, the Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve spans 650 acres. It has a network of trails and draws thousands of visitors a year and generates millions in spending. 

Grant and Friends of Badger Mountain also helped to preserve and open access to other local peaks, including Candy Mountain, Little Badger and Red Mountain.

Grant was announced as Tri-Citian of the Year by Lura Powell, the former Pacific Northwest National Laboratory director and last year’s recipient. Grant is the 52nd winner and the fourth woman to win on her own and not as part of a couple or group, organizers said.

Grant has been featured in numerous media stories and has received other honors, including being named Tri-Cities Conservationist of the Year in 2023 by Tapteal Greenway.