Planning Documents | Park & Recreation District

Current Planning Documents

2026 Comprehensive Plan

The Park District Comprehensive Plan is updated!

The plan was adopted by the Park Board of Commissioners at their February 19, 2026 public meeting. It serves as the long-range plan for the Park District with a focus on the years 2026-2032.

It is the result of a community-based planning process that began at the Earth Expo on April 25, 2025, as documented in the Community Survey (Appendix B) and the Public Input Log (Appendix C)

Also known as the Bainbridge Island Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, the plan engages everyone, including community organizations and partners who also work to address the plan’s goals and objectives. For example, this plan will also update the City of Bainbridge Island Comprehensive Plan and work to align public investments.

View the Comprehensive Plan

Executive Summary (pg. 1-20)

PROS Plan (pg. 1- 148 )

Appendix A Trail Vision Plan

Appendix B Community Survey Report

Appendix C Public Input Log

Appendix D PROS Plan Inventory

Appendix E Park Exhibits

Strawberry Hill Park Concept Plan

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.

Williams Olson Park

Aquatic Center Replacement Plan

Proposed Concept Plan/Feasibility Study for Aquatic Center

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.

Background & Basis of Study

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.

Aquatic Center Replacement Plan Archives

2/21/19 – BIMPRD Board meeting – Coates Design Group Final Study Accepted

Coates Design Group briefly reviewed their study and fielded questions from the BIMPRD Board and the general public.

1/17/19 – BIMPRD Board Meeting – Coates Design Group Final Presentation

Coates Design Group will present their studies findings to the Park District at 6:00pm at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center meeting room.

9/20/18 – BIMPRD Board Meeting – Coates Design Project Update

Coates Design Group presented an update on their work on the aquatic center pool replacement project.

7/9/18 – Public User Focus Group Meeting

7/2/18 – Staff/Coaches Focus Group Meeting

6/21/18 – Ray Williamson Pool Feasibility Study Schedule – Board Review

The board reviewed the proposed feasibility study schedule developed by Coates Design Group.

Project Schedule (Project schedule is subject to change)
6/21/18 Board Meeting Minutes

6/7/18 – Ray Williamson Pool Feasibility Study Schedule – Design Firm Selection

6/7/18 Board Meeting Minutes

3/1/18 – Ray Williamson Pool Feasibility Study Schedule – Study Scope of Work

9/7/17 – Ray Williamson Pool Assessment Study – Board Discussion

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.

9/7/17 Board Meeting Minutes

8/17/17 – Ray Williamson Pool Assessment Study by Aquatic 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.

8/17/17 Board Meeting Minutes

Sakai Park Plan

Sakai Property

Adopted Concept Plan for Sakai Park

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.

Sakai Park & June 6, 2019 Park Board Meeting

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.

6/6/19 Meeting Minutes

To review materials presented by Jones & Jones at the 6/6/19 board meeting, select the following items:

Sakai Park Review and Feasibility Study Introduction

View the Jones & Jones presentation overview from the November 15, 2018 board meeting.

11/15/18 Board Meeting Minutes

Sakai Park Feasibility Study

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.

10/4/18 Park Board Meeting Minutes

Sakai Park & June 21, 2018 Park Board Meeting

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.'

Learn more about the 6/21/18 meeting.
6/21/18 Park Board Meeting Minutes

Status of Sakai Park as of May 2018

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.

Board Meeting Agenda Topic for 2/15/18

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.

Sakai Park Concept Plan

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.

Board Meeting Agenda Topic for 12/7/17

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.

Board Meeting Agenda Topic for 9/21/17

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.

Ray Williamson Pool Assessment Study

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:

Board Meeting Agenda Topic for 7/6/17

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.

Board Meeting Agenda Topics for 6/1/17

View the the Jones & Jones 6/1/17 presentation. Submit questions by June 15, 2017 to Senior Planner, Perry Barrett at perry@biparks.org.

6/1/17 Board Meeting Minutes

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

Action: Presentation by Jones & Jones. (Learn more about this agenda topic: Notice: Sakai Park Site Plan Options)
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.

Please note that the 6/1/17 board meeting will be held at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center at 7pm.

Board Meeting Agenda Topic for 5/18/17

Feasibility Study and Site Plan for Miniature Steam Train Attraction for Children with Quarter Mile Track at Sakai Park

Action: Information only.

Board Meeting Agenda Topic for 4/6/17

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.

Site Design

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.

Proposed Schedule

March

Develop conceptual design options based on community recommended uses (This would include preliminary utilities, parking/circulation/grading)
Present Sustainable Systems Analysis and conceptual design options to Park District staff for input, select preferred option(s)/park elements for further refinement

April

Develop preferred options/park elements with conceptual cost budgeting

May

Present preferred options/park elements with conceptual cost budgeting to Park Staff and Park Board for input

June

Present Final preferred option with conceptual cost budgeting and permitting elements to Park Staff, Park Board, and Design Review Board for input

July

Present Final preferred option with conceptual cost budgeting and permitting elements to Park Board and the public

Minutes/Documents from 2016 Public Process

8-18-16 Board Meeting presentation schedule and presentations and/or handouts

6:05pm Public Survey Results
6:20pm Create a Table Handout
6:35pm Multi-Use, Multi-Age Community Center
- 8/8/16 Presentation
- Multi-Generational Community Recreation Center handout

7/21/16 Board Meeting presentation schedule and presentations and /or handouts

6:00 PM
- Tables
- Values presentation
- Tennis Courts handout
6:45 PM
- Financial Feasibility presentation
- 50 Meter Pool
  - 50-meter pool presentation
  - 50-meter pool handout
7:00 PM
- Demographics
- Mountain Bike Area presentation
- Youth Sports presentation

Information Generated at 1/23/16 Meeting

Values
Idea List updated 2-3-16 (additions added to the bottom of the list; exact duplicates have been removed)
Issues for Consideration
Work Groups