To the editor:

The Bainbridge parks district is a precious resource for our island. To help make it even better, I hope you will join me in voting for John Grinter for Parks District Board of Commissioners.

John is a 15-year islander who has contributed to dozens of community projects, from spearheading the 2004 petition effort that created the current parks district and secured its funding, to leading the charge to build the new pathway along Sportsman Club Road.

Even more importantly, John’s can-do attitude and relentless focus on engaging the broader community will be a breath of fresh air in what has become a somewhat stale body.

We didn’t get to enjoy Friday movies in Waterfront Park this summer because of internal staff politics. We lost our kids’ water play fountain in Battle Point years ago because staff didn’t want to bother with it.

The focus of parks priorities and staff energy should be service to the community, and pulling the whole island into the process. The board of commissioners needs to be an active voice in representing the whole community, not defenders of the status quo and an increasingly bureaucratic staff. Too many times, those of us who try to do things with parks hear, “Here’s why this won’t work” rather than, “Here’s what it would take to make this happen.”

John will shake things up, while also making sure we get great results. I have huge respect for the many great accomplishments made by our long-serving leaders, but we’re overdue for some new blood. It’s time for John Grinter for parks.

BILL MCCOY

Bainbridge Island