Early discussions show Strawberry Hill Park would make more sense than Battle Point Park to have pickleball courts that are covered and have lights.
Tom Kelly kicked off the pickleball group’s presentation to Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation board saying there is a lot of interest as BI is the birthplace of the sport. Jonathan Thwaites said the proposed covered courts would not be fully enclosed.
Melissa Bang-Knudsen said one idea would move the maintenance yard and shop at Battle Point Park and replace it with eight covered courts. The second concept is for 11 covered courts on part of the most recent property addition to Strawberry Hill Park.
A slide was shared showing how the facility may look with lights. Erin Phillips said they want to find out which concept is most feasible, so they know where to spend their time and resources.
In public comments, Loanne Harmeling is a tennis player and said all the user groups need covered areas but she has concerns about covered amenities at Battle Point. Allison Garrison said as a Battle Point neighbor her concern is that additional pickleball courts will increase traffic.
Frank Petrie is president of the Battle Point Astronomical Association and said the presentation included an image of lighted-covered courts and said adding lights is not compatible with BPAA’s need for dark skies. Scott Daniels is a Battle Point Park neighbor and is concerned with both night use of the park and lights.
Al Quan said what a unique resource the BPAA is and talked about the importance of dark skies. Oscar Newman spoke in support of protecting the dark skies at Battle Point. Shay Pippinger and Mark Jumm spoke in support of covered pickleball courts. Toby Miller asked what consideration has been given to the acoustics of covered courts and how lights at night could be mitigated as he values dark skies and likes to play pickleball. Richard Velasquez spoke in support of pursuing covered pickleball courts for both locations.
Commissioner Ken DeWitt said there are neighborhood concerns as well as concerns about maintaining dark skies at Battle Point. Stormwater requirements and septic system capacity would have to be addressed for covered courts. Another issue is where the maintenance yard at Battle Point would be relocated. Strawberry Hill Park is centrally located and is more of an open slate.
Commissioner Jay Kinney said moving the maintenance yard would be expensive, and a maintenance area will still be needed at Battle Point. Stormwater management will be an issue and be expensive to reengineer. Pickleball participation is likely to grow, and building at Strawberry Hill Park will open possibilities as it is a blank slate. There is not as much competition with other user groups, and there would be less conflict with neighbors at Strawberry Hill Park.
Acting executive director Dan Hamlin said the plan for Strawberry Hill Park includes sports courts in the general location the pickleball group has presented for their covered courts.
The board gave staff direction to work with the pickleball group to refine the options.
Pool talks
Hamlin said staff has publicized two public meetings regarding the Ray Williamson pool bond measure. There will be a team of staff people at the meetings to share information and do a question-and-answer period.
Program administrator Jenette Reneau said that one option during the Ray Williamson pool renovation closures is to utilize only the Don Nakata pool in the Aquatic Center to accommodate patrons with expanded hours and creative scheduling. The major con is that all the current users will not fit in the Don Nakata pool, and there would be loss of participation. There is potential to cover the Bainbridge Island Recreation Center pool. The cons would be cost and impact on BIRC but according to projections, it would result in zero loss of programming or participation.
Hamlin said staff have been looking into covering the BIRC pool due to interest from the board in minimizing disturbance to the swimming community. Staff would like direction from the board regarding whether to pursue BIRC as an option for displaced swimmers. Reneau said she has had preliminary discussions with offsite pools, but they will not be a solution for a lot of participation.
The one bid received for this project was from FPH Construction. Hamlin said staff recommended awarding the bid to FPH Construction, which commissioners did for the amount of almost $3.35 million.
Procurement manager Michelle Miller said the Don Nakata pool liner was done in 2017 and redone in 2019 and the product that was used failed both times. The lawsuit to recoup the amount spent on the faulty liner was settled late last year for $300,000. A new one is going to cost almost $425,000.
Staff reports
Park Services superintendent David Harry said the paving at Williams-Olson Park will happen this month. All the materials have arrived for the Eagledale Picnic Shelter renovation. The Hilltop septic system replacement is underway. The Battle Point Park septic system project design is underway.
Park Services superintendent Lydia Roush said staff is working on the farm trail, ballfields, mowing and topping off playground chips. Both Strawberry Hill Park and Moritani Preserve are showing signs of natural regeneration of vegetation after the tree thinning projects recently completed to promote forest health. There will be goats at Blakely Harbor Park to clear invasive species funded by the BI Parks & Trails Foundation.
Senior planner Matthew Keough said he has been working on the Recreation and Conservation Office grant presentations for the skate park and to help replace the artificial turf fields at Battle Point Park. The staff has confidence in the release of the permit from the city of Bainbridge Island for the tennis courts at Sakai Park and are working on the bid package.
