Pritchard Park Bench Shelter
A special project honoring lives lost too soon
The Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation is proud to partner with private donors on special park projects for broad community benefit. A beautiful example is the Memorial Bench Shelter at Pritchard Park, a special place of rest and reflection that honors young lives lost.
A generous memorial gift from the Parsons family funded this park structure, unique in the Bainbridge Island park system: a handcrafted, rock-and-timber bench shelter inspired by the golden age of American park design.
Drawing from the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the timeless, rustic architecture of our national parks, the shelter was designed to harmonize with the land and honor those who came before. Nestled on the bluff above Eagle Harbor and the gliding ferries below, it offers a spectacular view of the Seattle skyline, and offers quiet space for remembrance and community.
Crafted from local stone and cedar, and informed by historic design references like Albert H. Good’s Park and Recreation Structures, the shelter is both a tribute and a new standard. It’s accessible, thoughtfully placed, and built with care by the Park District’s skilled team.
The project also uncovered remnants of the site’s past as the mill town of Creosote, adding layers of local history to the shelter’s story.
