BIFC, BISD partnering to improve lighting at local fields
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 29, 2025
In a private-public partnership, Bainbridge Island Football Club has partnered with the Bainbridge Island School District to improve the lighting and surfaces of the fields between Woodward Middle School and Sakai Intermediate School, delivering year-round use of the fields for the community–including in the darker, wetter fall and winter seasons.
“The upgrade of the fields has been a significant endeavor involving material site improvements, new field surfaces as well as two fully lighted fields. BIFC has contributed $2.6 million to the project to date, which has entirely funded the refurbishment and installation of field turf on the inside of the track, and partially covered the installation of lights,” said BIFC board president Dave Johnson. “While BIFC pays ongoing fees to BISD to use the facility, the beauty of this project is that the entire Bainbridge Island community benefits from BIFC’s investment.”
The field at Woodward has been designed as a single project with three phases. The club has fully funded phases 1 and 2 to date, and has covered the engineering and permits for phase 3, with an estimated $2.2 million remaining to be raised for development of the south field, per a news release.
BIFC has announced its second annual Trivia Night fundraiser, taking place Nov. 14, to support funding of the new lighting, programs such as TOPSoccer for players with disabilities and $40,000 in financial aid and scholarships to ensure access to soccer for all.
The lighting itself, a BIFC investment of nearly $900,000, has been the most dramatic update to the fields, allowing for safe play throughout the year. BISD partnered with DA Hogan for engineering and with Musco, the company that just upgraded the lights at Wrigley Field. Six new 70-foot posts support the lights with eight lighting banks (one bank of lights on each of the north and south posts and two banks on each of the middle posts). The unique, reflecting lighting technology ensures that surrounding neighborhoods are not disturbed. The project comes with a 25-year warranty, covering all materials, labor and maintenance, the release says.
“BIFC funded the project and partnered with BISD because it was a good opportunity for both parties,” said BIFC executive director Jim Handy. “BISD had a grass field that needed improvement, and it was a very convenient field for a large number of BIFC players, including Woodward, Sakai and BHS students who play for the club. By funding the conversion of the old grass field at Woodward to a turf field, and with the new addition of permanent lights, BIFC has helped add a field that is usable year-round, for BISD, BIFC—the entire BI community.”
