Our Future is Bright Again | Guest Viewpoint

Published 8:30 am Sunday, March 24, 2019

It was a refreshing moment at a recent city council meeting when Mayor Kol Medina said we were were witnessing the making of public policy as the council and stakeholders arrived at a win-win solution for the configuration of the Dave Ullin Open Water Marina.

The council should be commended for keeping an open mind and the citizens for calmly communicating their views.

At stake was the existing navigable area through the southern part of Eagle Harbor. A different outcome could have put an end to the Bainbridge Island Junior Rowing program. A crew without a race course is like a soccer team without a field. A previous council vote on the issue resulted in a tie, pushing the final vote to the Tuesday meeting on Feb. 26.

Most of the Junior rowers, coaches, and parents turned out for the meeting, filling the council chambers and flowing out into the lobby. Mayor Medina said a typical audience is five, but at that meeting, there were hundreds.

The passionate outpouring of support for Bainbridge Island Rowing is a reflection of its impact on lives. The sport of rowing is a throwback to simpler times. Pulling on an oar through a beautiful waterway in perfect harmony with your friends is food for the soul. The sport involves a healthy dose of exercise, nature, and the feeling of community — not a bad thing in a modern world that leaves us sedentary and increasingly isolated.

Furthermore, the inclusivity of this program fills a need in our community that can’t be overstated. The opportunity to be a part of a team for those who may not fit into other sports or activities holds tremendous value.

The Junior rowing program seems to blend perfectly into our collective values. We are a city that cherishes open space and protecting public access to parks, shorelines, and waterways. We “Share the Road” with non-motorized forms of transportation and recreation. We have a strict critical areas ordinance to protect the environment. Outstanding schools reflect our commitment to our youth. We have a rolling housing moratorium enacted by our city council. All these measures are designed to protect our joint ownership of the communal environment.

So, how did we almost kill the largest high school athletic program in an effort to add five more homes to the middle of a public critical area? The irony is notable. Alternatives were always available that had minimal impact on all stakeholders.

These student athletes should not have needed to spend hours in a city council meeting to save their sport. However, they respectfully made their point by showing up en masse and articulating their position from the podium.

The outcome was positive due to the civility and commitment of everyone involved. It was a community effort but I believe the mass turnout by the high school rowers made the difference. I was impressed. The youth of our community are our future, and from what I saw, the future is bright.

Eric Driggers is a longtime Bainbridge Island resident and a member of the Bainbridge Island Rowing Masters team. He also has a son on the high school Junior rowing team.