The Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation has purchased 7.3 acres of woodland on Koura Road to create the island’s newest open space park.
The parcel was purchased from the Hayashida family, which has stewarded it for generations. It will remain passive open space with recreational trails. The purchase was funded by two generous private donors through the Parks & Trails Foundation.
The parcel will be transferred to the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District. The Park District will have conversations with neighbors prior to the development of trails.
Interpretive signage at the yet-unnamed park will share the history of Japanese American agriculture in the Koura Road area. The Hayashidas and other Japanese American families owned land and farmed strawberries there through the mid-20th century, in what is now the Meadowmeer neighborhood.
The new park fronts both Koura and Miller roads, wrapping around a developed parcel at the Koura/Miller intersection. Protective covenants restrict the property to passive uses and nonmotorized trails.
“This land has such rich cultural history and many stories to share, beyond its great value for public open space and trails,” said Mary Meier, Executive Director. “We are grateful to the Hayashida family for their stewardship of this property and for the opportunity to purchase it for parkland. Our generous donors made it possible.”
Dan Hamlin, Executive Director of Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District, said, “This property has been part of our island’s agricultural and cultural fabric for generations, and we’re honored to help preserve that legacy as parkland. We look forward to working with the community this fall to shape trails that honor this history while giving islanders a beautiful new place to connect with nature.”
For more information: www.biparksfoundation.org, www.biparks.org.