The Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation District announced a dozen goals for 2025 at its most-recent commissioners meeting.

Assistant executive director Amy Swenson said the goals include: 1) get Phase 2 of the Ray Williamson Pool renovation underway, 2) Comp Plan update, 3) continued commitment to sustainable practices such as electric equipment and solar energy, 4) accessibility plan, 5) planning for ballfield improvements, 6) develop procurement policies, 7) maintain $2.4 million in reserves, 8) new website, 9) continue to improve IT infrastructure, 10) new recreation software, 11) update policy on cost recovery, and 12) plan to prioritize and fund land acquisition.

Swenson added that challenges include: 1) increases to liability and property insurance, 2) the closure of Ray Williamson Pool for renovation will reduce revenue, 3) aquatic scheduling issues are anticipated due to the Ray Williamson Pool closure, 4) hiring challenges, and 5) Capital Improvement Fund planning and reserve management.

Also at the meeting, Park Services sperintendent Lydia Roush said a great integrated pest management plan like what Parks has includes cultural, physical, biological and chemical controls. Some wins this year include that poison hemlock was irradicated at Schel Chelb Park, and there is now minimal poison hemlock at Point White Pier.

Challenges this year for herbicide application included a long and wet spring and a breezy summer. There are continued challenges with broadleaf weeds on sports fields. Parks commissioners decided to spray at Battle Point Park, Strawberry Hill Park, Sands Ballfield, Rotary Park, and Hidden Cove Ballfields. Fields will be closed for about an hour when work is done.

Park Services superintendent David Harry said staff has solar energy proposals from two companies for BI Recreation Center and the Aquatic Center. Before grants can be pursued, structural engineering calculations are needed to determine what the buildings can support. IT manager Skye Carlson said his research shows it could cost up to $10,000 to have remote access to Parks board meetings. Acting executive director Dan Hamlin said Parks plans to continue with its current remote access system through the budget process and decide how to move forward by the end of the year.

Senior planner Peter Best with the city of Bainbridge Island talked about the Comprehensive and Winslow Subarea plans. Two of the alternatives add a new park zone to city code allowing for park-specific uses and regulations. Currently most parks are in residential zones, and there is a translation challenge between residential development standards and park uses and development. The decision will influence capital facilities planning for Parks regarding the need for facilities as determined by levels of service and the geographical locations for those facilities. The city will adopt Parks comprehensive plan as a draft element of its Comp Plan, which is in part a recognition of its expertise and that state law requires some of Park’s plan in the city’s Comp Plan.

Also at the meeting, Loanne Harmeling said the tennis community has a little over $92,000, which is about half the matching funds pledged for the two new tennis courts being built at Sakai Park.

Staff reports

There will be a party in honor of retiring executive director Terry Lande Oct. 15 from 4-6 p.m. at BIRC.

Roush said the state Department of Fish & Wildlife will be setting traps to see if there are any green crabs at Schel Chelb Park lagoon and Blakely Harbor Park mill pond. Recreation Division director Madison Collins said 60% of programs were full this summer as opposed to 48% last summer and refunds were reduced this summer to 17% from 25% last summer.

The BIRC pool will close for the season at the end of September. Hamlin said a pickleball group is investigating creating a private pickleball facility. The Aug. 21 Sounds of Summer concert at Battle Point Park featured Backstreet Jellyroll with the largest crowd this summer with up to 2,200 attendees. Hamlin said staff is planning for the Haunted Hayride.