Renovations at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center are underway, and going well, facilities maintenance manager Mike Omans said at the BI Metro Parks and Recreation District meeting Feb. 27.
Omans explained that Phase 1 of construction will continue through August, at which point the project reaches a juncture: keep the pool closed and proceed to Phase 2, or reopen for the busy fall and winter swim season, with the approval of the state Department of Health. Phase 2 would then resume in May 2026.
“Staff are prepared to move from Phase I to Phase II, but from a programming standpoint, it would be preferable to reopen the pool for fall and winter, which is the busiest time of the year for aquatic programming,” aquatic program administrator Jenette Reneau said.
However, until the DOH gives the OK, Phase 2 will proceed without delay, parks executive director Dan Hamlin said.
Before the project is completed, one islandwide process that stirred over 1,200 public comments will play out in miniature soon at the park district. Parks commissioners prepared to solicit public comment on its Comprehensive Plan update, which will determine the direction of parks and programming until 2031.
A Comp Plan is a document that guides development for a set period of time — in the case of the BI parks district, about every six years. “This is an opportunity to educate the community about what the park district does. It is also an opportunity to reach those populations that are not currently being reached and get engagement from them,” Commissioner Dawn Janow said.
The parks’ last Comp Plan was ratified in 2020, and it highlighted community priorities like increasing opportunities for indoor recreation, discrete options for hikers, mountain bikers and dog owners, while noting a potential shortage of parkland long-term as the BI’s population continues to grow.
Based on community feedback, the two main goals set in 2020 were to pass a bond for the Ray Williamson Pool renovation and add more facilities to Sakai Park, though public input was split on what kind of facilities the community was most interested in.
Many respondents cited a strong interest in multi-use indoor recreation space, which could lessen the congestion at existing facilities and provide options during the cold, wet and dark months. Most outdoor recreation spaces, like playgrounds or sports fields, would duplicate existing resources nearby, respondents added.
Others saw a need to keep Sakai more “rural,” given its proximity to more densely populated areas of BI, and said that parks should focus on trail development, benches and habitat improvements. As it played out, the bond failed and Sakai has an outdoor tennis court, but the district is currently making progress on its 2020 goal to improve the Ray Williamson Pool. As for indoor facilities, the district purchased what’s now called the BI Recreation Center.
