The Dec. 18 meeting of the BI Metro Parks and Recreation District concluded former parks commissioner Dawn Janow’s six-year term, as newly elected parks commissioner Rachel Pritchett takes her place.

In Janow’s honor, the board of commissioners passed a resolution commending her for her service. Janow was instrumental in several efforts that have shaped the district’s offerings in recent years and laid the groundwork for its future, including bringing “Pia the Troll” to Sakai Park in 2023.

“In her capacity as commissioner, she raised awareness of and advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the district and the community,” the resolution reads. “She will be particularly remembered for standing up for her beliefs and she will be fondly remembered for her heartfelt devotion to and gratefulness for all that the district provides to the community and her emphasis on stewardship, enhancement and sustainability of those offerings.”

Commissioners Jay Kinney, Tom Swolgaard and Ken DeWitt all praised Janow for her accomplishments during her tenure.

“She will be missed, and it was great working with her,” added Swolgaard.

2021, in particular, was a major year for Janow’s service as a parks commissioner.

That year, she was a major force behind the park district’s June acquisition of the BI Recreation Center, formerly known as the Bainbridge Athletic Club, which is now a major hub for indoor sports and fitness programming and seasonal outdoor swimming. In August, she successfully campaigned for the park district’s levy lid lift, which provided the district with adequate funding to continue its suite of programs and recreation opportunities, avoiding budget cuts in 2024 and creating greater resources for the renovation of the Ray Williamson Pool at the BI Aquatic Center. In September, she kicked off the second generation of the KidsUp! Playground, an all-ages, all-accessibilities playground — renovated to resemble a Washington State Ferries vessel.

At the unveiling of the play structure, Janow recalled that her own children played on the original version of the park. Seeing its new iteration was a reminder of the importance of inclusive communal spaces, she explained during a 2021 interview with Bainbridge Community Broadcasting.

“20 years ago, community members came together and built by hand the first idea of this park, and now this new place that’s inclusive for all kids and all people (of) various abilities, and just watching everybody here interact in such a fun way is just phenomenal,” Janow said. “Pulling so many different people together, it’s been great […] I think that’s what playgrounds do for all of us, they teach us how to get along with each other, even if we come from really different points of view.”

Janow spearheaded the effort to bring the “Pia the Troll” interactive sculpture to Sakai Park in 2023 and ran for City Council in 2025 against BI Planning Commission chair Sarah Blossom and newly elected Councilmember Mike Nelson.

At her final meeting Dec. 18, Janow welcomed Pritchett and thanked her fellow commissioners.

“Everyone has been so kind and generous and I have learned so much. It was an honor to work with and get to know the board and staff,” she said.