OUR HISTORY

The Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation was established in 1997 as the Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation, to support the work of the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District. Upon incorporating as a nonprofit organization, the Foundation partnered with One Call for All for funding and awarded its first round of grants to local community groups in 1998. Our first major project was restoration of the historic Camp Yeomalt cabin.

In the fall of 2014, with the vision and support of donors, the Foundation hired its first paid Executive Director and welcomed new Board Directors to expand its fundraising capacity and community reach. In 2022, the organization refreshed its brand, adding “& Trails” to its name to reflect the growing importance of trails in its mission.

Today, the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation supports and enhances recreational opportunities for all island residents and visitors.

We have funded major capital projects such as Owen’s Playground, KidsUp! The Next Generation of Play, and the Strawberry Hill Bike Park. We’ve helped expand parklands through strategic property gifts at Strawberry Hill Park and 8 Acre Woods, and supported parkland preservation at Grand Forest East and the Ted Olson Nature Preserve.

We are the leader in acquiring, building, and maintaining public trails, adding more than 10 miles of public trails islandwide in the last few years in partnership with the Park District, the City of Bainbridge Island and other entities. We support stewardship of the island’s more than 1,500 acres of public parks and open spaces through innovative programs like ParksCorps, Student Conservation Corps, and Summer Trails Crew. Additionally, we provide Community Grants to support community-driven recreational projects and programs.