Pritchard Park Archives | Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation

A new shelter from a classic age at Pritchard Park

A new shelter from a classic age at Pritchard Park

The golden age of design in American parks was, ironically, the Depression.

The Civilian Conservation Corps, a new federal relief program meant to put America back to work, sent 3 million displaced laborers out across the continent to restore and enhance the nation’s public lands. Some were craftsmen, recent immigrants who brought Old World skills and perspectives to the task.

Among the greatest beneficiaries: national parks, where the CCC built countless lodges, cabins, shelters, bridges, stone gateways and walls, dams, sheds, trailhead markers – proud, iconic structures, still admired and enjoyed by visitors today.

Bainbridge Island has a new park feature inspired and informed by the CCC era: a rock-and-timber bench shelter at Pritchard Park. Nestled into the bluff overlooking the mouth of Eagle Harbor and west toward the Seattle skyline – its view, eagle-eye straight to the Space Needle – the rustic shelter is crafted from local materials and wholly at one […]

A new shelter from a classic age at Pritchard ParkDouglas2023-12-14T08:40:31-08:00

The heart and soul of Bainbridge Island parks

The heart and soul of Bainbridge Island parks

Perry Barrett and Bainbridge Island found each other at just the right moment.

It was 1994, and islanders were not too long removed from saving the first 240 acres of the Grand Forest from development, and were turning their eyes toward Gazzam Lake. Preservation was in the air. Barrett, meanwhile, joined the Bainbridge Island Park and Recreation District (the “Metro” would come later) as a planner with a background in open space and trails.

It was a timely match.

“The community had this shared vision that ‘if you don’t buy it now, it’ll go away as an opportunity,’” Barrett recalls. “That was very much true, and even more true today than even the most far-sighted people could see.”

Over the next 29 years, Barrett would play a quiet but essential role in expanding a modest park system into the treasure that islanders know and enjoy today.

Working from a hopelessly cluttered nook in the Park […]

The heart and soul of Bainbridge Island parksDouglas2023-04-20T13:35:56-07:00

‘Point of Departure’ film makes its debut

‘Point of Departure’ film makes its debut

“Point of Departure,” a film chronicling the new interpretive artworks at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial at Pritchard Park, is now available for viewing online.

The 10-minute film by islander Katie Jennings features Lilly Kitamoto Kodama–who was 7 years old when her family was forced to leave their home–as she shares her experiences.

The film was produced by the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, funded by the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation with support from the City of Bainbridge Island Civic Improvement (LTAC) Fund.

The interpretive artwork at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial at Pritchard Park recalls the day in March 30, 1942, when 227 Bainbridge Islanders of Japanese descent, most American citizens, departed from this site for wartime exile. Their destination: a concentration camp in Manzanar, California.

The works, by artists Anna Brones and Luc Revel, were inspired by photographic images taken on the day of […]

‘Point of Departure’ film makes its debutDouglas2023-01-11T09:24:57-08:00

Island Coop Preschool stewards Exclusion Memorial

Island Coop Preschool stewards Exclusion Memorial

Thanks to Island Cooperative Preschool for helping put in new native plants at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial at Pritchard Park.

Youngsters (with a little help from parents, teachers and community volunteers) installed more than 150 sword ferns, salal, nootka roses, Oregon grape and salmonberry around the memorial site, and spread mulch over the newly planted beds.

Ellen Carleson, Island Cooperative Preschool teacher and director, said the school wants its children to know that even as youngsters, they can make important things happen for the environment.

“In teaching environmental education, we so often want to jump into problem-solving the crises of the world,” Carleson said. “What the studies have found is, with young children, you just have to have them fall in love with the earth and care about the earth. Once they are in love with the earth and care about […]

Island Coop Preschool stewards Exclusion MemorialDouglas2022-11-23T08:19:32-08:00

‘An emotional departure’ at the Exclusion Memorial

‘An emotional departure’ at the Exclusion Memorial

Where the Departure Deck ends, wartime exile began.

New interpretive artwork at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial at Pritchard Park recalls the day in March 30, 1942, when 227 Bainbridge Islanders of Japanese descent, most American citizens, departed from this site for wartime exile. Their destination: concentration camps in Manzanar, Calif.

The works, by artists Anna Brones and Luc Revel, were inspired by photographic images taken on the exclusion day. An imposing mid-span gate is by Port Townsend craftsman John Buday of Port Townsend.

Oxidized steel figures depict the men, women and children carrying their scant belongings down the deck to a waiting ferry. Towering soldiers with bayonets in reverse-silhouette loom over the approach, while a pivoting steel plank underfoot evokes the clang of bars, of incarceration. Near the end of the deck, a lone “ghost figure” defined by negative space suggests absence […]

‘An emotional departure’ at the Exclusion MemorialDouglas2024-02-21T15:14:30-08:00

BIJAEMA 80th year observance March 30

BIJAEMA 80th year observance March 30

Join Survivors, dignitaries, and community leaders as we commemorate the forced removal of the first Japanese Americans to be evacuated from the West Coast during World War II. Shortly after the signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, Public Proclamation No. 4 launched the forced evacuation and detention of Japanese American residents on a 48-hour notice. The Japanese Americans of Bainbridge Island were the first group to be evacuated to a partially constructed camp at Manzanar in the Southern California desert.

Speakers at the event include Governor Jay Inslee (a resident of Bainbridge), survivor Frances Kitamoto Ikegami, 4 student leaders from Woodward Middle School, as well as a roster of community leaders. The Commemoration will conclude with a reading of the 276 names on the Exclusion Memorial Wall. View the full Program here.

The event will be livestreamed via the BIJAEMA Facebook Page. BIJAC requests that people consider attending […]

BIJAEMA 80th year observance March 30Douglas2022-03-23T18:53:42-07:00

Exclusion Memorial volunteer day gallery

Exclusion Memorial volunteer day gallery

Thank you to the more than 130 islanders who turned out to support community and civil rights at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial volunteer work day, Feb. 19.

Volunteers cleaned the winding memorial wall, trimmed and weeded the grounds, and cleared the ornamental pond of reeds.

It was the biggest-ever turnout for this annual stewardship day.

The event marked the 80th year observance of the signing of Executive Order 9066, which set in motion the forced exclusion of Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island for wartime incarceration.

From Clarence Moriwaki, Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community: “Thanks to the Parks Foundation for partnering and getting people out. It’s all about that, isn’t it? It’s all about partnerships. It’s all about community. This is really fantastic.”

On March 30, BIJAC will host “80 Years of Healing,” the annual observance of the forced exclusion, with an hour-long program. […]

Exclusion Memorial volunteer day galleryDouglas2022-03-18T20:20:01-07:00

EarthCorps chips in at Exclusion Memorial, Pritchard Park

EarthCorps chips in at Exclusion Memorial, Pritchard Park

When EarthCorps geared up on Bainbridge Island last spring, Daisy Torres built trails on Blakely Hill and rooted out blackberries at Blakely Harbor.

When she returned this week with an all-new crew, Torres looked forward to more of the same – especially the trail building, which she quite enjoyed. The heavy equipment was fun.

The new assignment, though, came as a surprise, and a welcome one: restoration work at the Exclusion Memorial at Pritchard Park, on the eve of the 80-year observance of the forced wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans.

“I’d been wanting to come to this place, and I didn’t think we’d actually be working here,” Torres said. “It feels really meaningful and purposeful to be doing this right before the 80th anniversary, and being a small part of that for people.”

The Parks Foundation is partnering with the Bainbridge Island Japanese American […]

EarthCorps chips in at Exclusion Memorial, Pritchard ParkDouglas2022-02-17T20:19:09-08:00

Register today for Pritchard Park volunteer day Feb. 19

Register today for Pritchard Park volunteer day Feb. 19

Join us for Pritchard Park Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 19, the Day of Remembrance.

Help beautify Pritchard Park in advance of 80 Years of Healing, March 30, 2022 observance of the forced wartime exclusion of Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island.

Please pre-register for this event

Feb. 19 is the annual Day of Remembrance for Executive Order 9066, which authorized the wartime exclusion. The Bainbridge community is invited to refresh and replant the Exclusion Memorial grounds and surrounding park. Pre-register for that event here.

What to bring: We suggest volunteers wear sturdy, close-toed shoes, long pants, work gloves and your favorite tools. Please also bring your own water bottle if you’d like one.

We will email you before the event with additional information, including the work plan and tasks.

COVID-19 Requirements

• All participants must respond to a COVID questionnaire prior to participating in the event

• Proof of vaccination and […]

Register today for Pritchard Park volunteer day Feb. 19Douglas2023-01-11T09:42:10-08:00

Parks Foundation, BIJAEMA partner for Pritchard Park restoration, documentary film

Parks Foundation, BIJAEMA partner for Pritchard Park restoration, documentary film

March 30, 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of the forced exclusion of Bainbridge Island’s Japanese Americans for wartime incarceration.

To honor this milestone, the Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation and Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association are partnering on stewardship projects and a documentary film at the memorial site and Pritchard Park.

UPDATE: This campaign is now fully funded.

“The wartime exclusion and welcome return of the island’s Japanese American neighbors is a foundational story of our community,” said Mary Meier, Parks Foundation executive director. “This partnership is about healing both land and people, as we honor a uniquely Bainbridge Island story that resonates into the present day.”

Two environmental restoration events launch the project.

On Feb. 19, the Parks Foundation and BIJAEMA co-sponsor a Volunteer Work Day on the annual Day of Remembrance for Executive Order 9066, which authorized the wartime […]

Parks Foundation, BIJAEMA partner for Pritchard Park restoration, documentary filmDouglas2022-01-24T19:11:39-08:00