STEWARDING OUR HISTORIC SHORELINE PARK

Blakely Harbor Park is a spectacular 40-acre shoreline open-space park on beautiful Blakely Harbor at the island’s south end. Its stunning natural beauty is matched by its fascinating historical significance.  Once the site of the Port Blakely Mill, one of the world’s largest sawmills in the late 1800’s, this park has now returned to a natural state.

The park is also the hub of an extensive trail network at the island’s south end, branching north past historic Blakely Cemetery and into the Eagledale neighborhood, and south and west to Fort Ward Park and the Fort Ward national historic district – with even more connecting trails now in the works.

Thanks to the new Blakely mill pond jetty bridge, the park itself features a scenic loop trail that circumnavigates historic mill pond.

Today we need the support of the community more than ever to ensure that Blakely Harbor Park will be a treasured, welcoming place. With less than 4 percent of the island’s shoreline accessible for public use, this park offers valued access to shoreline as well as woodland and riparian areas.

Perhaps more than any other Bainbridge park, Blakely Harbor Park owes its very existence to the passionate dedication of residents. Local citizens worked to preserve the land from being densely developed as proposed by the Port Blakely Company in the early 1990’s. Since that time, neighbors have continually supported restoration efforts, which have been reinforced by the work of volunteers, the Student Conservation Corps, Weed Warriors and committed volunteers. Through the generosity of neighbors, a substantial push has been made in supporting the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District’s Blakely Harbor Park Conceptual Landscape Plan. Invasive weed removal and suppression is ongoing, with large areas of the northern section of the park well underway. Culverts have been removed and a footbridge constructed.  A restroom has been built and trails have been laid and improved for accessibility. Native vegetation is beginning to thrive, with more plantings scheduled.

This park needs your help to maintain momentum in these significant enhancements. The Parks Foundation will work with the Park District to make sure your donation creates valued improvements to this park, ensuring that Blakely Harbor Park will thrive for the enjoyment of the community for generations to come.