The May meeting between the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation Board of Directors and the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District Board of Commissioners was a thoughtful, forward-looking conversation about our shared mission.

And timely, as the Park District’s newly revised Comprehensive Plan reflects a community-driven shift in emphasis – from park system expansion toward long-term stewardship of existing park properties and increasing public shoreline access where possible. The community showed strong support for continuing to add new public trails islandwide.

Stewarding our natural resources is foundational to this partnership with the District, from founding Student Conservation Corps to the hundreds of thousands of dollars in conservation grants the Foundation has given. And here, the Foundation emphasized its commitment to continue to do more for the natural spaces in our parklands.

Although parkland acquisition will no longer be a district priority, the Park District must rely on partners like the Foundation more than ever to respond to unique and essential opportunities that expand existing parks and amenities and increase shoreline access. The Foundation’s campaign for a new Eagle Harbor Sail Float (formally launching in late June) will ensure the youth sailing programs remain vital and robust, and community access to our waters preserved.

With community support, our Trails Campaign will bring two more signature trails online this year, the Lost Valley Trail and boardwalk and the Waypoint Woods gateway trail and stairs. Many more trails are in the works.

“Keep doing what you’re doing,” Parks Commissioner Ken DeWitt urged.

While the Park District faces budget constraints and deferred maintenance challenges across the system, the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation is here to do more.

As Commissioner DeWitt noted, the Foundation is the Park District’s closest partner, and the District’s work would not be possible — nor nearly as impactful — without the Foundation’s support.

Recent successes like Strawberry Hill Bike Park, saving Grand Forst East, and the nearly 11 miles of new public trails we’ve added in recent years, speak to the overwhelming success of this partnership.

The Board and staff of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation look forward to building on this partnership, to realize the Park District’s goals and mission for the benefit of the community.