What's Happening

It's been a fantastic summer here at the Park District, and I want to take a moment to celebrate just how much our staff has accomplished together over the past month. 

Our summer events and programming have been a huge success. I had the chance to attend the sailing camps and our paddleboarding event, and it was such a joy to see kids out on the water having fun and learning new skills. Gretchen did a phenomenal job coordinating and teaching the many participants. I also stopped by a collage class at Seabold Hall, where Jamie was leading participants through a hands-on art project. It's always a treat to see our instructors in action, and Jamie's skill and connection with participants really stood out. This kind of talent is what makes our programming special. 

Before summer wraps up, don't miss Terry's Sounds of Summer concert series and Movies in the Park. Both are great ways to enjoy these last warm evenings with family and neighbors. Our fall registration opened last week. It’s exciting to see the enthusiasm around registration. We also still have plenty of classes with spots available, so if you've been meaning to sign up, now's the time. 

On the facilities side, I'm excited to share that the replacement of the artificial turf fields at Battle Point Park is officially complete. Meanwhile, at the Ray Williamson Pool, demolition is done and crews are now putting things back together. Progress is going well and we remain on schedule. As construction continues, I want to ask for your continued patience and grace with our Aquatic Center staff. Pool space is limited right now, and our team is working incredibly hard to get everyone into the water. Please share the space generously and know that our staff are doing everything they can during this challenging stretch. 

The Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation recently hosted a very successful Party for Parks event, where they announced the acquisition of 7.31 acres on Koura Road, soon to become one of our newest open space parks. This acquisition supports one of our key goals: increasing trail connections and expanding trail opportunities across the island. Your support of the Foundation directly supports projects like this one. Before trail development begins, we'll be having conversations with neighbors in the area to gather input. 

Finally, I want to share that Lydia Roush will be departing our park services division director role. Lydia has been with us for four and a half years, and her accomplishments — including the development of the Strawberry Hill Bike Park and thinning projects at both Moritani Preserve and Strawberry Hill Park — have left a lasting mark on our parks. We wish her the very best in her next chapter and are actively recruiting for her replacement. 

Thank you all for being part of such an incredible summer. See you out on the trails and at the parks! 

Dan Hamlin 
Executive Director