Community rec programs, clubs get financial boost

Published 9:30 am Wednesday, December 20, 2017

What a score for Bainbridge Island Water Polo.

The club will now be able to buy new folding floating goals for practice and matches, thanks to a $3,000 grant from the Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation.

The foundation has announced the awarding of six grants through its annual Community Grant program.

The grant program will provide $17,000 in funding this year to local park and recreation programs.

Barb Trafton, executive director of the parks foundation, thanked the nonprofit’s donors for making the annual community grant program possible.

“It’s exciting to be able to give meaningful support to such a broad range of programs,” Trafton said.

“The generous contributions we receive each year through One Call For All, and directly through the Foundation, help to fund these projects that in sum serve many hundreds of islanders, for purposes that create joy and enhance lives.”

Other grant recipients this year include:

Bainbridge Island Beach Volleyball Club ($2,000 to replace the sand in the Fay Bainbridge Park volleyball court, or to build a new outdoor court);

Bainbridge Island Rowing ($3,000 to purchase eight new sets of sculling oars);

Fort Ward Community Hall ($3,000 to help restore the historic bakery building as a public park facility);

Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District outdoor programs ($3,000 for a new safety vessel for community boating programs); and

Teen Center ($3,000 for new furniture for the youth drop-in space).

Awards were determined through a competitive grant review process led by parks foundation board members and volunteers.

Located in the Marge Williams Center, the Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation supports and expands recreational opportunities for all of Bainbridge, including trail acquisition and maintenance, park stewardship, fiscal sponsorship for community-led park projects, and grant support for capital efforts.

Since 2001, the foundation has awarded more than $1.2 million in grant support for a wide array of parks, trail and recreation projects.

For more information, visit www.biparksfoundation.org.