The Land Trust’s Heart of the Forest acquisition campaign is in its final stages due to the generosity of approximately over 200 wonderful citizens and foundations that are committed to protecting this gem of Bainbridge Island in perpetuity. As of this writing (March 2010), Bainbridge Island Land Trust is approximately $47,000 short of its $1, 796,100 campaign goal. If you haven’t already, please join in helping to complete the purchase of this incredible treasure. Click here today for a Heart of the Forest donation/pledge form.
What is the Heart of the Forest? The Heart of the Forest on Bainbridge Island is a stunning, 19-acre woodland situated between popular existing parks and at the heart of a flourishing natural ecosystem. In 2007, the Bainbridge Island Land Trust reached an agreement to buy the property and launched an ambitious fundraising campaign.
The 19-acre “Heart of the Forest” is bordered on the north and south by the Grand Forest, to the west by the new Forest to Sky Trail (Grand Forest to Battle Point Park), and to the east (separated by a hoped for future connection) by the Mandus Olson Grand Forest parcel, the BILT-owned Wildlife Corridor, the Park District-owned Meigs Park, and the City-owned Meigs Farm protected properties.
Meandering Issei Creek – a critical Island salmon stream – springs to life deep within the Heart of the Forest, and stands of Western Redcedar, Douglas Fir, Hemlock, Sitka Spruce and Broadleaf Maple grace the property and support a rich variety of bird and animal life.
With this acquisition, the above-mentioned parklands will be joined: linked together to form a connected network of superb open pace. The Land Trust’s purchase ensures the protection of this valuable habitat. Under current zoning, as many as 8 homes could be built on the 19 acres.
The Heart of the Forest belonged (and 21 contiguous acres still belong) to longtime Island resident, Pete DeGroot. Pete’s father bought the property from the State in 1930 for $20 per acre. During the Depression, he sold firewood and Cascara tree bark from the property to make ends meet. In the 1950’s the DeGroots built the first of six ponds on the property and in the 1960’s planted more than 3,000 cedar and fir seedlings. Pete has carefully and conscientiously stewarded the property since the mid-1980s, and his love for the place is clearly evident in the vibrancy and beauty of the land.
The Heart of the Forest is being purchased for $1,640,000: a $450,000 discount from the appraised value. The purchase price is scheduled to be paid over five years with 6% interest due each year on the outstanding balance. There is no prepayment penalty. With the addition of costs associated with the purchase, fundraising costs and a very modest amount towards short- and long-term stewardship, the Land Trust committed itself to raising $1,796,100 to complete the project.
The journalist and naturalist Hal Borland said “Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.” As the Heart of the Forest campaign progresses, we are practicing both patience and persistence.
The Bainbridge Island Land Trust was established in 1989 by citizens concerned with development on the Island, and over the past 21 years we’ve helped acquire (and/or protected with conservation easements) over 860 acres of public lands, including several beloved public parks and park additions: Gazzam Lake Preserve and the Peters Tree Farm, Smith and Close Property additions to it, The Grand Forest, Blakely Harbor Park, Pritchard Park and an addition to it, Hawley Cove Park, the Ted Olson Nature Preserve Addition, Meigs Park, Meigs Farm, and the Rockaway Beach pocket park.
Our very first conservation easement (drafted in 1989) protects the bucolic, 20-acre meadow at the corner of Day Road and Highway 305 – land originally slated to become a golf driving range.
To date, we’ve helped preserve more than 1,100 acres of Island public park land and private open spaces.
The Bainbridge Island Land Trust is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation fully funded by individuals. Because of our unique tax status and funding, the Land Trust can offer property owners a variety of flexible conservation tools to preserve their land. Donations to the Land Trust are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
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