Parks Archives | Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation

Park District opens survey on Comprehensive Plan update

Park District opens survey on Comprehensive Plan update

The Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District is updating their Comprehensive Plan for 2026 and is seeking community-wide input to shape the future of parks, trails, recreation programs, natural areas, and facilities across Bainbridge Island. The Comprehensive Plan is a guiding document that’s updated every six years and assesses the data about what we have, what we need, and where we’d like to go. The Park District will be collecting public feedback in a variety of ways, including online, and at Park District events, and public meetings. The survey can be accessed at biparksurvey.org/open.

This project is led by Framework Consultants, with survey and data work done by RRC Associates. A random sample of households on Bainbridge were mailed a postcard with a link to complete a survey online. The participants […]

Park District opens survey on Comprehensive Plan updateDouglas2025-06-06T15:57:53-07:00

A warm December welcome for 8 Acre Woods

A warm December welcome for 8 Acre Woods

Befitting a park with trailheads on three sides, everyone seemed to come to 8 Acre Woods from a different direction, metaphorically speaking.

Andrew Schmid grew up on nearby Manitou Park Boulevard and knew the Skiff Point parcel as all woods and no trails, too dense and impenetrable even for rowdy kids on BMX bikes.

Those more recently familiar with the land knew it precisely for trails, built with intention over the years by the property owner who invited all to walk and share the land.

Then there’s Jim Kondek. He’s lived on neighboring Falk Road for almost 40 years and reckons he’s walked every mile of Bainbridge Island trails, but had somehow never crossed the green threshold into what would become known as 8 Acre Woods.

“I knew it was here and was a good-sized parcel, but I had no idea there […]

A warm December welcome for 8 Acre WoodsDouglas2025-01-13T13:34:21-08:00

8 Acre Woods dedication is Dec. 12

8 Acre Woods dedication is Dec. 12

Join the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation and Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District to dedicate the island’s newest park, 8 Acre Woods, at 2 p.m. Dec. 12.

Nestled in the woods near Skiff Point, this beautiful property has been donated to the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District by a conservation-minded donor for use as a walking-trails-only park.

The owner has allowed neighbors to enjoy the property for years, and this generous gift will make it a park in perpetuity.

8 Acre Woods is located at the corner of Manitou Beach Drive and Mountain View Road at Skiff Point.

8 Acre Woods dedication is Dec. 12Douglas2024-11-27T14:17:18-08:00

Land gift creates 8 Acre Woods park near Rolling Bay

Land gift creates 8 Acre Woods park near Rolling Bay

The gift of a wooded parcel near Rolling Bay is creating a new 8-acre neighborhood park.

To be known as 8 Acre Woods, the park property has been gifted by a conservation-minded donor to the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District via the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation.

An open house and dedication will be held at the park at 2 p.m. Dec. 12.

8 Acre Woods is located at the corner of Manitou Beach Drive and Mountain View Road at Skiff Point. It shares a property line with the Fieldstone of Bainbridge, a senior living center.

The property owner is a longtime supporter of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation and was aware of the organization’s effort to bring opportunities to the areas of the Island underserved by parks and trails.

Informal walking trails on the property will be […]

Land gift creates 8 Acre Woods park near Rolling BayDouglas2024-12-16T14:09:02-08:00

Community Grants applications due Oct. 1

Community Grants applications due Oct. 1

Got a great project for your favorite park or trail? Get a Community Grant and make it happen!

The Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation’s 2024 Community Grants program is now open, with applications due by 5 p.m. Oct. 1.

Find a link to the grant application portal at www.biparksfoundation.org/community-grants.

Grants of up to $3,000 are available for qualifying park and trail projects.

Community Grants are awarded to capital improvement projects that enhance our parks, trails and recreational opportunities. Since 1998, the Parks & Trails Foundation has awarded Community Grants totaling more than $894,000 supporting youth and adult park and recreation programs and facilities on Bainbridge Island.

Individuals or clubs that are not nonprofit organizations but want to apply must partner with Bainbridge Metro Parks on their project. Contact the Parks & Trails Foundation for assistance in presenting your project idea […]

Community Grants applications due Oct. 1Douglas2024-09-06T13:59:24-07:00

$15K in Community Grants, more than $1M given this year

$15K in Community Grants, more than $1M given this year

The Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation has awarded Community Grants totaling$15,000 to six park and recreation clubs and programs.

The Community Grants cap a big year for the Foundation, which has given $1.020 million in total support to the Bainbridge Island Metro Park District in 2023 for park and trail projects, programs and parkland acquisition.

Community Grants were awarded to purchase new kayaks for the Bainbridge Metro Parks recreation department; tools and equipment for Gear Grinders youth bicycle club, for their volunteer work on public trails; new sculling oars for Bainbridge Island Rowing; educational signage for a heron rookery along the Charles Schmid Waterfront Trail in Winslow; educational signage for dog owners in local parks; and support for future tennis courts at Sakai Park.

“This is why we’re here,” said Mary Meier, Parks & Trails Foundation executive director. “Island neighbors and clubs […]

$15K in Community Grants, more than $1M given this yearDouglas2023-12-15T15:04:12-08:00

Find winter peace in parks and trails

Find winter peace in parks and trails

We are in the approach of the shortest day of the year, Dec. 20. The winter months can feel like a long dark tunnel through which we must pass endless hours in low light and shortened days. The moistness of the air is heavy, and the mists cling and linger in the fir and cedar branches shooting skyward.

The cloud layer is soddened and gray, and the distant memory of summer flowers feel at their very farthest. It is time to harvest the gifts hidden among the shadows in the woods and within our beautiful parks and beaches.

Drip-drip-drip go the rain droplets falling from wet branches as the breeze loosens them and they fall to the ground. The thirsty soil drinks them up and laughs a cheerful splash back to the ear. Mushrooms, rotted wood dissolving in the rains, laden covered branches with gray furry lichen, fallen leaves, evergreen huckleberry, salal, […]

Find winter peace in parks and trailsDouglas2024-01-25T16:17:10-08:00

Got a project? Get a Community Grant

Got a project? Get a Community Grant

Got a great project? Get a great grant for parks and trails.

The Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation’s 2023 Community Grants program is now open, with applications due by 5 p.m. Oct. 1.

Grants of up to $3,000 are available for qualifying park and trail projects.

Apply online, and find the grant guidelines with examples of past funded projects, at www.biparksfoundation.org/grants.

Community Grants are awarded to capital improvement projects that enhance our parks, trails and recreational opportunities. Since 1998, the Parks & Trails Foundation has awarded Community Grants totaling more than $879,000 supporting youth and adult park and recreation programs and facilities on Bainbridge Island.

Individuals or clubs that are not nonprofit organizations but want to apply must partner with Bainbridge Metro Parks on their project. Contact the Parks & Trails Foundation for assistance in […]

Got a project? Get a Community GrantDouglas2023-09-01T15:48:07-07:00

Great work for parks & trails in our 2021 Annual Report

Great work for parks & trails in our 2021 Annual Report

It’s all about positive impacts.

Read the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation’s 2021 Annual Report, out now. From KidsUp! Playground to the STO Sakai Connector, Blakely Harbor Park restoration to a $1 million donation to expand Strawberry Hill Park, together we did great things for our parks and trails.

We’re grateful for the swelling ranks of generous donors and volunteers who make all of our accomplishments possible. Thank you!

Great work for parks & trails in our 2021 Annual ReportDouglas2022-08-01T12:24:28-07:00