Candidates focus on cost-savings, plans for parks, protecting green space.

Kirk Robinson and Mary Fearey are both running for a position on the Bainbridge Island Park and Recreation Commission’s board, but that’s where the similarities end.

Incumbent Robinson and challenger Fearey spell out different areas they would focus on as board members.

The board’s five members are each elected to unpaid, six-year terms and meet twice a month. Its charge is to develop the island’s public park and recreation system to serve Bainbridge Island residents. Duties include adopting policies, approving the district budget and initiating and administering park activities.

Green space

Fearey cites preservation of green space on the island in face of growth and connected trails as her top concern for the park district.

“(A top issue is) managing the growth of the park system,” Fearey said. “I think we need to have a long-range plan of what we want the island to look like, because this is a period of unprecedented growth. The resource of green (space) has got to be a big concern and it needs to be wisely managed.”

Fearey says the park district is doing a “great job” using resources wisely, but “I do fear special interest groups can make decisions that don’t reflect the community as a whole.”

As an example, Fearey says that if there is need for a new sports facility, she would want it near the high-density areas of the island rather than in a park.

She would also like to work more with the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and farmers towards a master plan for green space for the whole island.

Fearey said she would push for connected trails that might enable residents to walk all around the island. She said parks could be “less manicured” with more “native areas” of meadow grasses, but praised the park crews for using non-toxic alternatives in their landscaping work.

“I truly believe (parks) reflect the culture of the community,” she said.

Through parks, she sees young stewards being cultivated and becoming physically fit and active.

“I feel very passionately about parks. I feel the green space reflects the community’s culture,” Fearey said. “It’s such a sacred asset it needs to be retained.

“I would like to see it pumped up and expanded.”

Nitty gritty

Robinson said that he would work to complete, by end of 2005, the transition of the current park district to a metropolitan park district, approved by voters last year. Items to finish include the transfer of assets and liabilities and setting up policies and procedures for the new metro district, for which funding starts at the end of 2005.

He touts his personal interest and work experience in administrative management dealing with budgets, finances and contracts as plusses.

A second item is updating or creating master plans for each existing park or open space parcel to be transferred to the district.

“Not only are there new properties, but we also have a lot of other properties that don’t have a current master plan to reflect where we want to go,” Robinson said.

He cited the outdated master plan for Battle Point Park which made it difficult to decide how to go with the lighted soccer fields (which were rejected) and a horse arena there (which was accepted).

“I do believe personally that we need to go back and reflect the current thinking of the population (in master plans),” Robinson said. “How do we balance the active and passive requirements that gives us a good balance for all the stakeholders in the parks?”

Robinson would also like to deepen the coordination among the parks and the island’s other taxing districts to save money by sharing expensive equipment or trading expertise and resources – possibly through a shared maintenance yard.

The park district already saves money on gas by purchasing it from the fire department.

“Each has its own strengths. Rather than have each district reinvent the wheel, you could create a barter or chargeback situation,” Robinson said. “That coordination is, I think, one of the essential things that needs to happen in the next few years.

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In a nutshell

Kirk Robinson

(incumbent)

Age: 51

Occupation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program analyst

Birthplace: Berkeley, Calif.

Education: M.B.A., University of California at Berkeley; B.A. history, University of California in San Diego

Civic Involvement: Current park board chair; parks recreational softball volunteer, parks capital facilities committee, Bainbridge Island Basketball Association girls coach, former board member and softball coach for Bainbridge Island Little Leagues, Squeaky Wheels, former WSF Bicycle Advisory Committee, bike representative on WSF Tariff Policy Committee and Audubon Society

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Mary Fearey

Age: 48

Occupation: Bainbridge Island School District occupational therapist

Birthplace: Hinsdale, Ill.

Education: M.A. in occupational therapy, Texas Women’s University; B.A. history, Illinois State University

Civic Involvement: Kids Up playground fund-raising and construction, campaign volunteer and precinct captain for local and national elections, PTO board member, ski bus chaperone, volunteer for Harvest Fair, Bainbridge Island Land Trust, Blackberry Run, All-Comers Track Meet, Bainbridge Island Youth Soccer Association