Join Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation District Work Parties in 2023

Margaret Millmore | Posted on January 1, 2023 |

Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation District 2023 Work Party Schedule

BI Parks 2022 volunteers accomplished so much! Join them this year to accomplish even more!

More than 800 volunteers worked with the Natural Resources team at Bainbridge Island Metro Parks and Recreation District in 2022 to accomplish an enormous amount of work in the District’s more than 1300 acres of natural areas. And they aren’t stopping! Winter 2023 volunteer opportunities number over a dozen, working on trial maintenance in the Grand Forest East, invasive species management at Blakely Harbor Park, winter garden care at Red Pine Park, and more.

The Natural Resources team at Bainbridge Island Metro Parks sends a huge thank you to their volunteers! The numbers are still rolling in, but even in the midst of COVID shutdowns in early 2022, the Natural Resources Department hosted…

800+ Volunteers
1600+ Volunteer hours
And over 50 volunteer events

Their incredible team of volunteers and seasonal staff accomplished herculean amounts of work! The accomplishments are too many to name, but the highlights include…

200+ Yards invasive species removed
60+ Historic fruit trees cared for
1000+ Native plants planted
45+ Miles trailed maintained
3 New trails built
40 Young people employed through Student Conservation Corps and Trails Crew

Conservation Work Party –
Where – Blakley Harbor Park, NE Country Club Road & Blakely Ave NE
Time – 10:00 AM – Noon
Dates – January 14^th, February 11^th, March 11^th

Description – Join the Park District and IslandWood this winter in the ongoing restoration of Blakley Harbor Park! Thousands of volunteer hours have already been logged helping transform the site of the one-time largest mill in the world. Volunteers will help remove invasive species, spread mulch to discourage regrowth, and plant native species where invasives have been brought under control.

Well suited for children ages 6+ who are comfortable using small hand tools and walking off trail on uneven surfaces.

Trails Work Party –
Where – Grand Forest East, 7098 Mandus Olson Rd NE
Time – 10:00 AM – Noon
Dates – January 21^st, February 18^th, March 18^th

Description – Join Bainbridge Metro Park’s trails team in maintaining trails of the Grand Forest East. They’ll be returning sections of the trail to class 1 standards, pruning vegetation, raking trail surfaces, and more.

These work parties are well suited for children ages 8+ who are comfortable using some small hand tools and walking a mile or so throughout the two-hour work party.

Moritani Preserve Work Party –
Where – Moritani Preserve, 542 Winslow Way W
Time – 10:00 AM – Noon
Dates – January 10^th, February 14^th, March 14^th

Description – Join their Natural Resources team in caring for the woods and meadows of Moritani Preserve by managing invasive species, maintaining garden beds, and planting natives when the weather is right.

Red Pine Park Work Party –
Where – Red Pine Park, 418 Wood Ave SW
Time – 10:00 AM – Noon
Dates – January 19^th, February 16^th, March 16^th

Description – Work with their horticulture staff to maintain garden beds, an historic fruit orchard, edible perennials, and other historic plantings in this former homestead in the heart of downtown.

To join in their Winter 2023 project line up contact Volunteer Program Manager, Morgan Houk, morganhouk@biparks.org.

To sign up for monthly updates on work party locations visit their website, www.biparks.org/volunteers.

Save the Date for Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service
After a three-year COVID hiatus, we are thrilled to be hosting our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

Blakely Harbor Park
Monday, January 16^th
10:00a – 1:00p

Come make this important holiday a “day on not a day off!” The Park District and our partners will have conservation tasks for all ages caring for the ongoing restoration of this important island ecosystem. Come when you can and work as long as you’re able.

For additional information, contact: Morgan Houk, Program Manager 206-502-3229 or by email at morganhouk@biparks.org Website – www.biparks.org/volunteers