The Bainbridge Island Metro Parks and Recreation District is putting a hold on plans for a turf field at Strawberry Field Park.

Executive director Terry Lande said at a recent meeting that the BI School District is looking at installing artificial turf at Woodward Middle School this summer, and turfing and lighting the baseball, softball and soccer fields at Bainbridge High School this fall. If the school district moves forward with those projects, there is no immediate need to install turf at Strawberry, Lande said.

Park Services Division director Dan Hamlin said the turf at Strawberry is now estimated to cost $3.5 million. Lande said he would like to bring the topic back before spending any more money on it.

Meanwhile, Hamlin said there are concerns regarding parking and adding a perimeter trail at Strawberry Hill Park. Staff has been working with consultant Asakura Robinson on solutions.

In the last presentation, removal of the old office building and other storage buildings for consolidation on other property was shown. Reorientation of Field 3 and installing artificial turf was also presented. The full report will assess utility needs and parking. A phased parking approach was shared; as specific uses expand parking can be added. Peak use needs would require 226 parking spots; there are 206 in the current plan, and currently there are 135. Future options for parking include previous parking areas, seasonal temporary parking or perhaps entering into an arrangement with the nearby Filipino American Community Hall.

Commissioner Tom Goodlin expressed concern about numerous small parking lots breaking up park space. Hamlin said the parking lots only depict the number of spaces that will be needed.

Lande said staff is looking at Sakai Park as an alternative to Strawberry Hill Park for two tennis courts. Lande said if tennis courts are built at Sakai and turf is not installed at Strawberry it would reduce the need for parking and stormwater management.

Hamlin said fundraising will play a role in determining the order in which projects are developed. The dog park expansion will happen first.

Regarding Sakai Park, Hamlin said the city is working with property owners on a temporary construction easement. The city would do curbs and gutters, sidewalks, planting strips and bike lanes. The project is scheduled to begin in August and run into 2024. Starting at the south end of Sakai Park along Madison Avenue and going north 523 feet an area 10-17 feet wide will be cleared other than trees that are over 8 inches in diameter. The city will replant the area.

Hamlin said the realignment of the park entrance will also be done by the city. There is a discussion regarding the city running sewer lines to Sakai Park.

Commissioner Dawn Janow said the covers a lot of bases for the park district and creates more accessible multimodal transportation for the community and to the park, which is eventually going to connect to the Sound to Olympics trail.

During public comments, Adam Hunt said that the Sakai Park planning process needs to be prioritized and that adequate indoor recreation facilities are needed. Penelope Hunt said she signed her name to support the Sakai Park action petition and read it aloud. Goodlin said he would be interested in conversation to further the planning for Sakai.

Finally, Lande said the Ray Williamson pool work in 2023 will be mainly permitting and bidding out work to be done in 2024. Hamlin also said fiscal year 2023 is being changed in the Capital Improvement Fund budget. Some projects had to be carried forward from 2022 to 2023.

In staff reports, Recreation superintendent Bryan Garoutte said soccer has 105 kids in the Saturday program and 350 kids in the weekday evening programs. The summer recreation catalog is now online.

Hamlin said an accessible parking area and path is being built by the artificial turf fields at Battle Point Park for the area adjacent to the observatory where outdoor events are held.

Senior planner Matthew Keough said he will be working toward a park code classification with the city to develop standards so projects can move forward more efficiently.

Lande said that the development surrounding the Madison Tot Lot is requesting a 5-foot no-build easement in exchange for walking and driving access, paving of two parking spots, a picnic table and a park bench.