A piece of “treasured island landscape” owned by the Bainbridge Island School District may see a change in ownership in the coming year, under the guidance of local environmental preservation nonprofits.
At the Jan. 9 school board meeting, the BI School District agreed to sell its 39-acre property in Grand Forest East, an undeveloped park in the center of BI, to generate revenue for capital projects.
BISD purchased the land in 1992 for $600,000 to build a second high school. That same year, the district added an additional 67-acre parcel that became Woodward Middle and Sakai Intermediate schools, BISD facilities director Dane Fenwick said.
Since then the land has been passively as part of the Grand Forest by the public. The district has not built any structures and only conducts as-needed maintenance. The BI Metro Parks and Recreation District performs trail maintenance, and easements to the city fire department and Meadowmeer Water Service Association generate $901 to BISD annually.
Sale of the land will help pay for building upkeep and some renovation projects. Strapped for cash, BISD is borrowing from its capital fund up to three times this year just to make payroll.
“Proceeds from a property sale of this nature will allow the district’s capital projects department to conduct essential renovations and other small works projects that contribute to a safe and sustainable learning environment district-wide,” Fenwick said.
Mary Meier, director of the BI Parks and Trails Foundation, and Cullen Brady, director of the BI Land Trust, issued a joint statement Jan. 13 that the organizations are committed to working with the district to ensure that the land is protected as an ecological resource.
“The Grand Forest nature complex is a treasured Bainbridge Island landscape, known for its interconnected trail network, intact forest core and vital natural habitats,” they wrote. “Recognizing the conservation and recreational value of this land, our organizations are united in our commitment to protect it permanently, ensuring that it remains undeveloped and accessible to the community for future generations.”