Nothing turns NIMBYism on its head quite like

public amenities. Particularly when it’s new parkland that’s being doled out, what better location than in close proximity to “my back yard”?

Thus did a bit of regionalism rear up at Wednesday’s

council meeting, as discussion turned to the ongoing efforts of the city Open Space Commission. One member of the august assemblage on the dais expressed some pique that the north end of the island isn’t getting its fair share of benefit from the open space program. He cited the map that appeared on the front page of Wednesday’s Review, showing that with most of the $8 million in bond funding spent, no purchases have been consummated north of Day Road.

Are north-enders getting the short end of the proverbial stick? Curious, we took a few minutes to chart the 15 open space deals by city council ward. And of the 15 transactions so far, fully one third have been in the domain of our north-end councilmen. Four newly acquired parcels are concentrated in the farm district bounded by the highway, Day Road East and Lovgreen Road, comprising some 33 acres total. The fifth purchase established a short strip of public sand on Manitou Beach, and may assist restoration of a salt marsh there.

Of the remaining 10 transactions, four have been in the

geographically smaller central ward, six in the larger south.

In the central ward, about 73 acres are being preserved (if you’re an optimist and count the whole Wyckoff/Pritchard Park property, 48 if you don’t; fund-raising to purchase the 25 acres around the Wyckoff “point” is ongoing). Meanwhile, approximately 133 acres have been preserved at the south end, thanks largely to the expansive Close and Peters tracts next to Gazzam Lake.

Pedants may want add up the dollars spent in each part of the island, but it seems reasonably clear that the Open Space Commission has generally followed opportunities as they’ve arisen. In the north end, that means smallish farms; in the south, larger forests. Of course, there’s still time to make a pitch for a pocket park in your neck of the woods; commissioners host a forum at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Madison Avenue fire hall, to take suggestions on how to spend their last million.

We trust that when all the money is gone, most folks will be pleased with our new parks wherever they might be. We are, in the end, still one island.

Parks, part 2

As we’re on the subject, we’ve been asked to remind folks that while most open space of these parcels are in public hands free and clear, private fund-raising to complete purchase of the Close property near Gazzam Lake continues apace. The city put down $1.25 million toward the negotiated price of $2.5 million; the Bainbridge Island Land Trust has three years to raise the balance. Should the effort fall short, some of the parcel could be transferred back to the owner or sold off.

So if you still have any discretionary dollars left after chipping in to the Bainbridge Foundation, the Katy Warner Christmas Fund, Pritchard Park, the new children’s museum, tsunami relief, and the Girl Scout cookie drive, the folks at the land trust would be glad to hear from you.