To the editor:

The Friends of Moritani Preserve recently hosted a community picnic in the open meadows of this beautiful new Winslow park. It was a perfect summer day filled with music, picnic blankets, camp chairs, and cake and strawberries to top it off. We’d like to thank all who came and all who donated to the ongoing restoration efforts in the forested zones of the preserve.

Our fundraising goal for ecological restoration efforts at the preserve through 2019 is $35,000. At the picnic we announced a generous $10,000 match for the campaign, and we are well on our way to meeting that goal with only $2,450 to go. If you haven’t donated yet, please consider doing so. If you have not yet visited Moritani Preserve at the west end of Winslow Way, take a stroll through the park to enjoy the peace and quiet it offers.

You may not immediately notice the amount of invasive plants that persist in the forested perimeters, thanks to brush cutting during the initial cleanup phase. There are still extensive areas of ivy, holly and blackberry that need complete removal before native plantings can be established to add diversity to this urban forest. Covering the cost of further forestry work, removing dead limbs and creating rich edge zones for wildlife, is our goal in fundraising.

Come to a work party, join the Friends of Moritani, donate, and most of all enjoy this special place that was donated to the Bainbridge Island Park District as a gift to the community.

See www.biparksfoundation.org to find out how you can get involved with Moritani Preserve.

TRISH BITTMAN

Bainbridge Island