Parks acquires over 7 acres near Grand Forest North for trail expansion

Published 1:30 am Friday, August 7, 2026

The Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District Board of Commissioners approved Aug. 6 the acquisition of 7.31 acres located directly across Koura Road from the northern boundary of Grand Forest North.

The district shared that the property provides opportunities to expand its recreational trail network further north, potentially as far as Bay Hill Road.

“It is a unique forested natural area with minimal invasive weed populations on the interior of the property. Staff have assessed the property and found it very suitable for a trail loop and potential connections from the Grand Forest North to new neighborhoods and other trail segments such as Fieldstone trail, Penny Place to Bergman Road and Yukio Lane,” per meeting documents.

The new acquisition also provides over 600 feet of north/south pedestrian travel removed from the edge of Miller Road, as well as options for trail users to avoid walking the road shoulders of Koura Road to access Grand Forest North.

Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation has secured commitments to purchase the property. The sellers of the land also wish to place restrictive covenants that would require the land to remain open space for trails and trail-related facilities only, shared the district.

Additionally, after much discussion on the prescribed Hilltop meadow burn, which was tentatively slated for later this month, the motion to approve next steps was denied 3-2 at the Aug. 6 meeting.

Many community members shared concerns at the meeting surrounding the current stage II burn ban in Kitsap County, with fears that the fire would get out of control. Essentially, a majority of the board agreed that the burn was not worth any potential risks at this time, and they will bring in a consultant to assess the prescribed burn to make recommendations.

The exact date for the burn was dependent upon weather conditions with the goal of ecological restoration and wildfire risk reduction in the area. A prescribed burn will be discussed again at later meetings.

The park district is also planning to revamp its memorial plan, commissioners shared at their Aug. 6 meeting.

Goals outlining the change include a desire to provide a meaningful way for residents to honor passed loved ones in a cost-effective way that requires little maintenance.

Staff proposed to allow participants to purchase a small, two-to-four-inch, engraved stone with their loved one’s name or a significant phrase. Participants would then be able to toss their stones into an existing body of water within the park system, such as Point White Pier or the Battle Point Pond.

A memorial bench for participants to return to and reflect on is also in the plan, with the addition of a plaque with a phrase or a poem associated with remembering and honoring those who have passed. Stones would cost approximately$30 each to create and would not need ongoing maintenance, the district shared.

Staff have already reached out to two community members who recently inquired about creating a memorial for a loved one. A vendor for the stones has also been found. Next steps are to move forward with a test site at Battle Point Park.