Bainbridge School District to Surplus Nearly 40 acres of Land in Grand Forest, Leaving Opportunities for Orgs to Preserve It

The Bainbridge Island School District (BISD) Board of Trustees recently voted to to surplus its 39-acre property that functions as part of Grand Forest East parkland.

The Grand Forest nature complex is a well used and highly treasured island landscape, known for its interconnected trail network, intact forest core and vital natural habitats.

The Bainbridge Island Land Trust and the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation are interested in retaining the property. Recognizing the conservation and recreational value of this land, “our organizations are united in our commitment to protect it permanently, ensuring that it remains undeveloped and accessible to the community for future generations,” said Mary Meier, executive director of the Parks Foundation.

The School Board voted on Jan. 9 to surplus the 39-acre parcel. Meantime, Meier added, “the Land Trust and Parks & Trails Foundation will work closely with the Bainbridge Island community, local leaders, and other stakeholders as we explore ways to safeguard this valuable resource.”

“We encourage everyone to join us in helping to conserve one of the Island’s most beloved natural and recreational spaces.”

A brief history of the Grand Forest and the 39-acre parcel

This parcel (south of Koura Road) and the surrounding lands, known today as the Grand Forest, were originally managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to generate revenue for public education through timber harvests or land sales.

In the late 1980s, plans by the State to sell the land prompted local activism. The “Committee to Save the DNR Forest” joined the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and Park District to fund raise through a bond levy, successfully protecting the first 240 acres of the Grand Forest, including the original Grand Forest West, North, and East (southern tract) parcels.

At the same time, this 39-acre parcel was acquired by the Bainbridge Island School District (BISD) to serve as a potential school site based on projected population growth. As growth slowed and demographics shifted, a new school was no longer needed – allowing it to serve as a valued community space for recreation and nature. The Metro Park District has since maintained the 39 acres and its trails as part of the greater Grand Forest system. Today, this land remains unprotected and undeveloped.

Graphic and picture courtesy of the Parks & Trails Foundation.