Important Update:
Due to weather conditions, BIRC and the Aquatic Center will open at 12:00p today, December 2.
Due to weather conditions, BIRC and the Aquatic Center will open at 12:00p today, December 2.
Acquired in 1966 from the federal government, Strawberry Hill Park is one of the first parks in the original Bainbridge Island Park District. The park has evolved considerably in that time, providing centrally located community recreation and services including the island's original skate facility, dog park, sport fields, administrative offices for the District, plus a community center and Mini Gym, which support year-round programming. It is time to refresh the plan for the park, particularly in light of recent land additions, new recreation interests, and an aging infrastructure.
The Strawberry Hill Concept Plan, launched in a public meeting in May of 2022, is to expand upon the guiding vision for the park into the future while preserving the park's unique character. It introduces both old and new uses with a level of intention such as growing the idea of central play space and improving safe park access and circulation. The schematic-level graphic is accompanied by a study that addresses infrastructure needs, parking requirements, and environmental stewardship.
It addresses the park's future development, such as the possibility of new offices for on-site staff and active park programming to keep this a very special Bainbridge Island park. View a copy of the draft concept plan.
The plan is going before the board of commissioners for approval 4/16 at 6pm.
The draft concept plan will be presented at the Feb 1 board meeting. Neighbors and community members will be given the opportunity to review and offer additional considerations before the plan is adopted. Details and comments will be captured and referenced in future decision making for the park.
To see details of upcoming board meetings and for a link to watch or listen online, visit Board Meetings and Documents.
The board of commissioners agreed to allocate funding in 2022 and 2023 to make necessary repairs to the Ray Williamson Pool to avoid any significant closures. This will also ensure that the community and the Park District’s Board of Commissioners have the proper time to determine a replacement solution for the Ray Williamson Pool.
View the proposed concept plan/feasibility study with three pool options for replacing the Ray Williamson Pool. For background information, see below.In recognition of the need for public park facilities and, in particular, a swimming pool, island voters approved the formation of the Bainbridge Island Park & Recreation District in a special election on May 25, 1965.
This effort was spearheaded by members of the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island with the active support of numerous other groups on the island. The first board meeting of the new Park District was held on June 4, 1965. To stabilize funding operations and long-term planning for the Park District, island residents voted on September 14, 2004, to approve the formation of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District. As a metropolitan park district, the Park District now operates under a tax structure that provides the community with ongoing funding for their local Park District and thereby assures island residents of continued park and recreation services from year to year.
In February 2015, the Bainbridge Island community voted in favor of purchasing the Sakai property located in the heart of the island and directly across the street from the current aquatic center. The District conducted a public process to determine the public’s interests in the new site, and one of the 12 items generated from the process was a 50-meter pool to replace the aging Ray Williamson lap pool. In the Summer of 2017, the District commissioned an assessment of the Ray Williamson lap pool.
The study confirmed the pool was beyond its useful life and no longer meeting the community’s needs. The same study proposed three alternatives to meet the growing community needs. In conclusion, the District’s board of commissioners decided to pursue further studies on operation and construction costs of a new facility in connection with the current facility as opposed to the Sakai property across the street.
Coates Design Group briefly reviewed their study and fielded questions from the BIMPRD Board and the general public.
Coates Design Group will present their studies findings to the Park District at 6:00pm at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center meeting room.
Coates Design Group presented an update on their work on the aquatic center pool replacement project.
The board reviewed the proposed feasibility study schedule developed by Coates Design Group.
View the Ray Williamson Pool Assessment Study. This study was presented at the August 17, 2017, board meeting, with action pertaining to it taken on September 7, 2017.
View the Ray Williamson Pool Assessment Study. This study was presented at the August 17, 2017, board meeting, with action pertaining to it taken on September 7, 2017.
The board adopted the concept plan, and the public interest will continue to be utilized to determine public needs in the future. View the adopted concept plan and feasibility study for Sakai Park (Schematic Design). For background information, see the following.
At the June 6, 2019 regular board meeting of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District, the feasibility study for the Sakai Park Concept Plan will be presented by Jones & Jones. Learn more about the June 6, 2019 Meeting.
To review materials presented by Jones & Jones at the 6/6/19 board meeting, select the following items:
View the Jones & Jones presentation overview from the November 15, 2018 board meeting.
At the October 4, 2018 regular board meeting of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District, the Board of Commissioners selected from a competitive RFQ process, the architect and landscape architect Jones & Jones to conduct a feasibility study for Sakai Park based on the concept plan adopted by the board on 6/21/18. The work will include schematic designs for the facilities presented in the concept plan, estimated capital costs, and an operational study that will include estimated costs to operate the facility.
At the June 21, 2018 regular board meeting of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District, the Board of Commissioners adopted the concept plan for Sakai Park that was developed by Jones & Jones in 2017. Subsequent to this board meeting an RFQ/RFP is soliciting for feasibility, phasing and other related design details.'
As a follow up to the concept plan presented to the Park Board by Jones & Jones on 12/7/17, the Park District will be seeking next month proposals from architects that will outline how they would provide specifics and costs for the recommended option presented in the Jones & Jones plan. This will be a formal RFQ (Request for Qualification) process conducted by the Park District with the intent of selecting the most qualified firm to work with in fleshing out options for the park. Look for more information about this later this summer.
At this time, the Park Board of Commissioners has not taken any formal action pertaining to Sakai Park’s development or amenities. There is planning and development underway for a trail through the park. Trail work is subject to City approvals and wetland mitigation.
The Park Board of Commissioners will be reviewing the concept plan for Sakai Park developed by architect Jones & Jones at the February 15, 2018 regular board meeting of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District. Possible board action could be taken.
View the concept plan (and the appendix) for Sakai Park presented by Jones & Jones to the Park Board of Commissioners at the 12/7/17 board meeting. During this board meeting, the Commissioners took action accepting the master concept plan and opening it up for public comments. The plan was not adopted at the 12/7/17 board meeting.
Public comments are now being sought on this proposed concept plan and are due by January 31, 2018. Please submit comments to Senior Planner Perry Barrett at perry@biparks.org. View the public notice.
Board adoption of the proposed concept plan is considered for the February 15, 2018 board meeting.
At the December 7, 2017 regular board meeting of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District, Jones & Jones will present to the Park Board of Commissioners their recommended concept plan for Sakai Park. Board action may be taken.
The concept plan Jones & Jones will recommend to the board on 12/7/17 is based on recommended uses for Sakai Park generated by the community after an extensive 2016 public process. In early 2017, Jones & Jones was asked to research and assess the feasibility of the community’s recommended uses for the park in the context of site constraints. At three different public meetings this past summer, Jones & Jones presented site plan options to the community and board, and gathered input. The concept plan they will present on 12/7/17 reflects the citizen input that was provided, as well as zoning and site constraints.
View the Jones & Jones 9/21/17 meeting presentation.
At the September 21, 2017 regular board meeting of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District, a third presentation was made by Jones & Jones on site plan options for Sakai Park.
View the Ray Williamson Pool Assessment Study. This study was presented at the August 17, 2017 board meeting, with action pertaining to it taken on September 7, 2017. View the minutes of these two board meeting:
View the Jones & Jones 7/6/17 meeting presentation. View a conceptual draft cost estimate.
At the July 6, 2017 regular board meeting of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District, a second presentation was made by Jones & Jones on site plan options for Sakai Park.
View the the Jones & Jones 6/1/17 presentation. Submit questions by June 15, 2017 to Senior Planner, Perry Barrett at perry@biparks.org.
On the topic of a 50-meter pool, there were a couple of comments at the June 1, 2017 public meeting that the landscape architects and architects are following up on regarding the total necessary square footage. Both the Port Orchard Pool and Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center were cited or discussed as suggestions for comparison by the original work group. We will post an update soon.
Sakai Park Site Plan Options
Please note that the 6/1/17 board meeting will be held at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center at 7pm.
Feasibility Study and Site Plan for Miniature Steam Train Attraction for Children with Quarter Mile Track at Sakai Park
Action: Information only.
Miniature Steam Train Attraction for Children with Quarter Mile Track at Sakai Park
Action: Possible motion to approve Sakai Park as location for steam train attraction.
The next phase of site design and planning for Sakai Park is occurring. The Park District selected from a competitive RFQ process the firm Jones & Jones. Landscape designers and planners will provide site configurations and analysis based on the recommendations submitted by the public’s design committees in 2016. We look forward to having preliminary designs this spring and a final design recommendation this summer.
March
April
May
June
July
The 2020 Comprehensive Plan of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District was adopted at the March 5, 2020, board meeting. To view related links, click below:
The Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District is initiating a Washington State-mandated planning update to its six-year comprehensive park, open space, and recreation plan. This effort will update the park inventory and assess the adequacy of community recreation resources on Bainbridge Island and recreation programming trends. The Park District conducted a public participation outreach through this effort with meetings, an online forum, and a survey.
The information collected will show areas of importance to community residents from which future goals and possible capital projects are derived. Capital projects can include park acquisition and park improvements or development. The updated comprehensive plan will set the direction for the next six years on which capital projects could be funded in upcoming annual budget cycles. It also assists grant-seeking efforts regarding eligibility for state and federal programs.
The 2020 Comprehensive Plan has entered the public comment period for SEPA review and will conclude on January 24, 2020. The draft Comprehensive Plan was approved on December 19, 2019, by the Park Board of Commissioners, subject to SEPA review. For related documents, click on the following links:
See below for background information and documents related to this comprehensive plan update.
During upcoming board meetings and work sessions, the Park Board of Commissioners reviewed the Comprehensive Plan chapter by chapter. All board meetings and work sessions are open to the public. Review a working timeline. Visit the following links for related documents.
The Board will conduct an initial review of the entire draft comprehensive plan at this meeting. To submit written comments, email Senior Planner Perry Barrett by 5:00 pm on December 4 at perry@biparks.org.
In January 2020, there will be a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) review period during which other agencies and additional public comments may be submitted.
The Board will conduct an initial review of the following chapters at this meeting. To submit written comments on these chapters, email Senior Planner Perry Barrett by 5:00 pm on October 23 at perry@biparks.org.
The Board will conduct an initial review of the following chapters at this meeting. To submit written comments on these chapters, email Senior Planner Perry Barrett by 5:00 pm on 10/9/19 at perry@biparks.org.
The Board will conduct an initial review of the following chapter at this meeting. To submit written comments on this chapter, email Senior Planner Perry Barrett by 5:00 pm on September 18 at perry@biparks.org.
The Board will conduct an initial review of the following chapters at this meeting. To submit written comments on these chapters, email Senior Planner Perry Barrett by 5:00 pm on September 11 at perry@biparks.org.
The Board will review the following chapters at this meeting. If you would like to submit written comments on this chapter, please email Senior Planner Perry Barrett by 5:00 pm on July 31 at perry@biparks.org.
On July 10, 2014 by Resolution 2014-14, the Park Board of Commissioners adopted the six-year 2014 Comprehensive Plan for parks, recreation and open space. To view the 2014 Comprehensive Plan documents, visit the following links.
The Battle Point Park Pickleball Courts have entered the public comment period for SEPA review and will conclude on March 20, 2020. For related documents, visit the following links:
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