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.