Archive
24 Feb Pritchard Park
BILT Admin Pritchard Park Visiting Pritchard Park today, you see a picturesque beach with fine sand and unparalleled views. But not so long ago, this open space was a place of heartbreak and disrupted families. The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial is located on the western edge of the park and commemorates the first site where Japanese Americans were forcibly detained and taken to internment camps during World War II. Why this property? On the opposite end of the park stands a former industrial site where wood was once treated with creosote, a toxic substance. When the area was declared a Superfund site for hazardous waste in 1987, the EPA shipped in tons of sand to cap the harbor’s sea-floor and tried to remove the leftover creosote with steam injections. That work was in process when The Trust for Public Land approached the Bainbridge Island Land Trust to help acquire the 50-acre property for a park. Partnering with the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park and Recreation District, the City of Bainbridge Island, the Suquamish Tribe, the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community, and The Trust for Public Land, the Land Trust helped raise money to purchase the park and build trails to showcase the property. Conversations between the EPA and the state continue to address how cleanup can and should continue. Pritchard Park’s story is a hopeful one, even if the land hasn’t been fully restored — it is a heartening example of how diplomacy and partnership can help heal old wounds of the land and people. Acres Protected 61 acres Conservation Features Coastal ecosystem Beach & undeveloped shoreline Scenic & open space values Habitat for migratory birds
24 Jan Wildlife Corridor & Expansion
BILT Admin Wildlife Corridor & Expansion The original 20-acre Wildlife Corridor was purchased by the Land Trust in 1995 to help connect the East portion of the Grand Forest with Meigs Park. In 2013, the Land Trust was able to purchase an additional 15 acres to the north of the original parcel adding even more protected space to the more than 580 contiguous acres in our island's central core. Both acquisitions help the organization meet its goal of preserving the diverse natural environment of Bainbridge Island for the benefit of all. Future plans for the properties include a small network of trails. Why this property? The 20-acre Wildlife Corridor parcel is adjacent to the 15-acre Wildlife Corridor Expansion, which doubles the corridor’s width from 330 to 660 feet. This provides a significant buffer that we know will protect wildlife habitat. The corridor enhances the over 580 contiguous acres of mid-island open space, habitat, and recreational areas that will be protected forever. The Grand Forest’s Hilltop connection, coupled with the Wildlife Corridor and its Expansion, gives us the opportunity to explore the dream of a cross-Island trail with our partners and supporters. Envision walking shore to shore - from the Island’s western shore, through Battle Point Park to the West Grand Forest, across Hilltop to the East Grand Forest, and finally across the widened Wildlife Corridor to Meigs Park. From there, it is a relatively short distance to Bainbridge Island’s eastern shoreline. The Wildlife Corridor allows us to think about this idea while protecting wetlands, a pond, and forestland. Accessing the Wildlife Corridor The Wildlife Corridor is open to the public. Access is located at the end of Forest Ln, off of Koura Rd. Street parking is available. Acres Protected 20 + 15 Conservation Features Forest Wetlands Foraging & Nesting habitat
19 Jan Agate Passage Preserve
BILT Admin Agate Passage Preserve In 2012 the Bainbridge Island Land Trust acquired a new shoreline preserve on the north end of the island. The property was purchased with private donations and grant funding from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office and Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Puget Sound Partnership's (PSP) Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Fund and the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program because of the intact shoreline, tidelands and riparian habitat. The project is approximately 12.5 acres that include 4.3 acres of tidelands, roughly 550 linear feet of undeveloped shoreline, and associated nearshore habitat. Protecting these properties has helped the Bainbridge Island Land Trust meet its goal of protecting habitat that supports multiple species of fish and wildlife and a broad range of ecological functions. The property will remain undeveloped, except for well-planned passive use including public shoreline access. Why this property? Bainbridge Island Land Trust's conservation plan specifically identifies the protection of our shorelines as a priority for our organization. This project addresses that priority as well as PSP's Puget Sound Action Agenda strategic initiative to protect and restore habitat to support salmon recovery. The preserve is a beautiful but sensitive site with extremely high conservation value. It has been identified as highly functioning nearshore habitat through the Land Trust's shoreline analysis, the Bainbridge Island Nearshore Assessment, and the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP) shoreline analysis. Along with extensive shoreline and nearshore habitat our Agate Passage Preserve includes 7.5 acres covered with mixed mature second growth forest, some open meadow areas, a non-fish bearing intermittent stream and wetlands. It also has incredible views of Agate Passage and the Olympic Mountains. We believe this property has incredible potential to help visitors connect with our natural world in a beautiful and intimate setting. The preserve, along with adjacent Washington State Department of Natural...
06 Jan Gazzam Lake Nature Preserve
BILT Admin Gazzam Lake Nature Preserve Gazzam Lake Preserve's history began in 1995, when the Bainbridge Island Land Trust acquired an option on some of the Gazzam property shortly before the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park and Recreation District purchased the initial preserve — an unscathed 314 acres of natural Island landscape. From the beginning, the Island voters committed to preserving the property’s unique natural habitats by approving the necessary public bond and levy funding. Reflecting community devotion to preserving natural areas and the City’s Open Space Commission request, the Land Trust raised funds from private donors and worked with the Park District and state agencies to seek grants which helped acquire the 64-acre Close property and its shoreline. The Land Trust then supported the Open Space Commission’s purchase of the 49-acre Peters Tree Farm by negotiating the purchase agreement and placing a permanent conservation easement on the property, to be transferred to the Park District. Why these properties? Both of these properties connect to and enrich Gazzam. Since then, spectacular community dedication and involvement have been a hallmark of Gazzam Lake’s history. This is perhaps best embodied by the community organization Keep Gazzam Wild, which strove, fought, and succeeded in acquiring 30 additional acres that now extend the preserve to the west and offer additional protection for the lake. As you walk here today, sense the commitment of the Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Recreation District, the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, and motivated Islanders — all cooperating and collaborating to conserve Gazzam’s natural integrity. Acres Protected 457 Acres Conservation Features Second growth forest 13.5 acre Gazzam Lake Wildlife habitat Wetlands Scenic areas & open spaces Shoreline Tidelands
04 Nov Hilltop
InterlockSolutions Hilltop The Land Trust acquired the beautiful Hilltop property with strong community support during one of our largest campaigns ever. Hilltop connects the East and West segments of the Grand Forest resulting in nearly 540 contiguous protected acres through the center of the island. The Land Trust has worked to improve the property’s condition by removing debris and invasive plants, bringing the orchard back to life, and improving overall site conditions with the help of BIMPRD, many volunteers, and other community partners. We’ve also been learning about the property and the species it supports through site assessments and surveys, including our 2016 BioBlitz. We have catalogued over 216 species who call Hilltop home and rely on the diversity of the woods, forest fringe and meadow habitats that Hilltop hosts. Why this property? The unique 5-acre Hilltop meadow is the crown jewel of the Grand Forest system, providing forest fringe habitat so critical to many birds and other species, while offering sweeping views of the Olympics from one of the island’s highest points. The entire property straddles the Fletcher Bay and Murden Cove Watersheds, protecting wetlands and streams that eventually enter Puget Sound on both sides of the Island. “The Land Trust recognizes Hilltop not only as important habitat connected to the Grand Forest, but also as an important public gathering place. On any given day, visit Hilltop and you will see not only great wildlife, but families, trail runners, horseback riders, and educational groups using the property—reasons why so many people in the community helped us with their generous support,” shares Jane Stone, the Land Trust’s executive director. Since acquiring the property, the Land Trust has worked towards the goal of having BIMPRD ultimately own all the parcels while helping care for this land in a way that reflects why we...- 1
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