• Arms Around Bainbridge

• Bainbridge Aquatic Masters Booster Club

• Bainbridge Island FC

• Bainbridge Island Lacrosse

• Bainbridge Island Land Trust

• Bainbridge Island Little League

• Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Parks & Recreation District

• Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation

• Bainbridge Ometepe Sister Islands Association

• Hyla School

Experience

I was elected in 2021 to serve the last 2 years of a vacated Park Commissioner position. Since then, my top three priorities have been to increase transparency for Park District actions, expand trail access, and implement facility improvements. As Commissioner, I’ve advocated for strong community outreach in planning projects such as the lighted turf fields, bike park, skatepark, and dog park being developed at Strawberry Hill; I have been involved in trails planning and expanding the trails network; and I have advocated measured development at Sakai Park that includes a picnic shelter, playground, and tennis courts while retaining open space for outdoor solitude in our more developed downtown region. I’ve also been active in public discussions regarding future projects for an Aquatic Center replacement pool, indoor sports fieldhouse, and pickleball court expansion.

The following present three examples of my solutions to Park District issues prior to my current service as Park Commissioner.

1. During the period I served as Vice President and President at the Bainbridge Island Land Trust (BILT), we negotiated terms with the Park District for turning over our purchase of the Hilltop property to expand the park of the Grand Forest and create cross-island trail connections. BILT was including a conservation easement with the transfer to preserve the property as parkland and to retain certain natural characteristics in perpetuity. To complete the process, I and another BILT board member met with two Park District Commissioners and staff to resolve many detailed issues. One early issue identified by the Park District involved maintenance difficulties for their staff if they had to meet trail requirements as stipulated in BILT’s draft document. I asked the Park District if they had existing trail standards, which they affirmed. By my getting the BILT board to follow the district’s existing trail standards, I removed an early obstacle that set the tone for resolving others. We successfully transferred Hilltop from BILT to the Park District with an associated conservation easement.

2. The Park District began a public process in 2016 to identify islander’s preferences for Sakai Park physical features for development, from which a top 10 list was identified in 2017. The Park District enlisted Jones & Jones to prepare a feasibility study design for all 10 elements, and this was presented to the public in June 2019 with an estimated cost of $53 million. I followed up later in the year to meet individually with 4 of the 5 sitting Park Commissioners to propose taking a first step to meet many public needs early without the extended development period of a large project. My proposal was to construct trails for public access, install tennis courts and parking along Madison Avenue, and complete a picnic shelter with playfield and bathroom in the northwest corner. Although I considered my proposal affordable, expedient, and responsive to the public’s interests, no action has been taken beyond starting trail construction.

3. The Bainbridge Island Football Club raised funds in 2008 to install two turf fields at Battle Point Park for youth sports. Such fields allow for year-round use compared to less than half-year use for natural grass in this region. When concerns were raised before Park District Commissioners about potential environmental and human health impacts of tire crumb rubber used to fill turf fields, I volunteered as a professional hydrogeologist to conduct literature research on tire constituents and environmental risks, particularly for concerns raised about possible impacts to aquifers. I collaborated with Dr. Mike Johns, an ecological risk assessor, to present data known on the subject to the Park District. Studies on the subject showed that risks were low and acceptable, and that proper field management could control tire crumb without deleterious effects on the environment. Our assessment was part of a presentation that gained approval and has led to successful turf field use at the park for over a dozen years.

I am continuing a practice that I began in 2021 to conduct a listening tour through the election this fall. I find it an excellent way to be well informed on islanders’ thoughts, concerns, and recommendations regarding their park district. Please send me an email or speak to me directly to share your thoughts. Discussions I have heard so far include the following:

Transparency. Greater transparency from the Park District is needed for development or improvements under consideration early in process to increase awareness and encourage public review. Consideration of different viewpoints matters, and islanders have been surprised by learning of potential plans after projects seem well underway. I remind staff of the important practice of inclusion, they have responded well.

Public Access. Trail development and maintenance is key for our park district to encourage use of our public lands. Good connections between parks are important and encourage healthy outdoor activities, and I have worked toward establishing trails through land acquisitions and easements.

Trail Use. Park District trails mostly are multiuse that mix hiking, bikes, and horses. Mountain biking is a popular and rising activity. Some hikers feel unsafe at times from the different energies of use. The new mountain bike park planned as an addition to Strawberry Park will be a great addition to focus active use, but additional solutions will be needed to provide trail access that the various users require.

Aquatic Center Capacity. The competition pool (known as Ray Williamson pool) was built in 1970. The Park District Board determined in 2017 that only maintenance and safety issues should be addressed, with the declared intent to evaluate and proceed with a replacement pool. This upgrade to a larger pool is necessary to maintain a functioning facility and to accommodate the very high pool demands compared to our island’s needs 53 years ago. I support limited maintenance to the Ray pool while working with my fellow commissioners and School District board members to plan a replacement pool on the north side of the Aquatic Center.

Turf Fields and Lighting at Battle Point. Battle Point turf field lighting was proposed in 2021 to expand the availability of practice fields on the island for organized sports such as soccer and lacrosse. Concerns expressed by the neighborhood surrounding Battle Point are real, as are those of the Ritchie Observatory. At the same time, sports clubs on the island have a need for field use during the wetter and darker half of the year. We Park Commissioners have been working with staff and coordinating with island sports groups to plan turfing and lighting of fields at Strawberry Hill Park to fulfill these needs, although these may remain a contingency if plans to redevelop the Woodward school field go forward.

Tennis in Downtown Area. Tennis players have long sought courts in downtown parks to have nearby access for play, as voiced by members of the Bainbridge Community Tennis Association. My urging for installation of two tennis courts has been taken up by staff and fellow Commissioners with the intent to install tennis courts at Sakai Park in 2024. Once complete, this will free up Battle Point Park tennis courts for needed pickleball expansion.