Dear Community,
As summer winds down, I want to thank you for your continued involvement with the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District. Your feedback this season has been invaluable and will guide us as we move into an exciting fall.
Our Comprehensive Plan Update Survey closed on July 31 with over 1,200 responses—thank you to everyone who participated! A third-party survey expert is now analyzing the results, and a whole community report will be available in late August. These insights will shape the long-term roadmap for parks, trails, and recreation, serving as a key foundation for the Comprehensive Plan update.
Looking ahead, fall registration is now open, offering a wide variety of opportunities to stay active and connected. Starting with our winter catalog, we’ll be moving our Recreation Connection to a digital format—an environmentally friendly approach that saves costs and aligns with our goals for climate action.
Fall will also bring the much-anticipated opening of the Strawberry Hill Bike Park, with construction progressing beautifully and a mid-September grand opening on the horizon. The date will be announced soon.
Meanwhile, excitement for pickleball continues to grow. This summer’s Founders Tournament, hosted by the Bainbridge History Museum at the Founder’s Courts at Battle Point Park, welcomed 420 players from across the country and honored Bainbridge Island’s role in the sport’s history. By the end of fall, the Battle Point shared-use courts will be fully converted to dedicated pickleball play, now that the Sakai Tennis Courts are open for play, creating even more space for our community to enjoy.
As we turn the page to a new season, I invite you to take part in the many ways to experience our parks this fall, whether through Haunted Hayride (almost sold out, get your tickets now!), outdoor adventures, or the special spaces our community has worked so hard to create together.
See you out in the parks,
Dan Hamlin
Executive Director
Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District