We celebrate the life of Paul Brainerd, a champion of our community’s parks and trails, who passed away Feb. 15.
Paul’s love for the island’s parks and trails ushered in a new era for the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation. Paul and Debbi Brainerd, with Alan and Sally Black, were foundational supporters who helped expand and professionalize the organization with the hiring of our first executive director in 2014. Their continued commitment has allowed the Foundation to grow its operations to become highly impactful for community-inspired park and trail projects.
Paul and Debbi’s environmental philanthropy extended across the Pacific Northwest and around the globe. Paul was familiar with the workings of parks foundations around the country, and believed that this type of organization could successfully work with island donors and its local community to support and extend the care that was needed for the trails they walked daily on the island.
Paul was especially committed to the eradication and management of invasive weeds that challenge our parks and trails ecosystems. Paul inspired deep and meaningful stewardship of Blakely Harbor Park from its creation in 1998 to the present day. With the Brainerds’ leadership and financial support, the former mill town site has been transformed into a stellar shoreline park that has inspired even more environmental restoration and community stewardship.
As an avid hiker, Paul also championed the idea of an expanded, connected trail system around the island. The Foundation enthusiastically embraced this vision, and has worked with community members to add new public trails to the Park District and City every year since 2014.
In 2021, the Brainerds entrusted the Foundation with the ongoing care of Halls Hill Lookout & Labyrinth, a contemplative open space overlooking Blakely Harbor the Brainerds created a decade earlier. This beloved space will remain a community asset forever.
The staff and directors of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation celebrate Paul Brainerd’s legacy as an environmental and philanthropic leader for the parks and trails he loved so much.