To the editor:

We islanders have pulled together many times over the last 30 years to save iconic pieces of open space on our island and through that collective community effort we have preserved the character of this island, with parcels such as the meadow at Highway 305 and Day Road, the Grand Forest, Gazzam Lake, Blakely Harbor, Pritchard Park and others. What would this island look like if we had not preserved these special places?

We now have the opportunity to save the 23 acres of open space on Madison Avenue. This parcel in the middle of the most heavily developed part of the island will be a signature piece of open space for our community.

This is an especially important opportunity because of the accessibility, visibility and scale of this parcel. As the largest undeveloped tract of land near Winslow, there is room on this site for both passive and active uses. It will be a place for families and friends to enjoy the outdoors in the most densely populated part of the island. Its adjacency to the high school and Ordway makes it ideal for both school and park district sports programs. This park, bordering 305 and Madison Avenue, will be a clear message to everyone passing by where this community’s priorities lie.

Bainbridge, we’ve done it before. Time to do it again; because we won’t have this chance again and there is no overtime.

NATE THOMAS

Founder

Bainbridge Island Land Trust