Bainbridge Island has a new central park in its future.
Islanders overwhelmingly approved a $5.9 million bond measure to pay for the purchase of the 23-acre Sakai property for a future park during the Feb. 10 Special Election.
Prop. 1 was passing with 68.9 percent in favor of the measure during the initial vote count on Election Night. A total of 31.1 percent were against the proposition in the first vote tally.
So far, 8,120 ballots have been counted.
The proposal needed a 60 percent supermajority to pass.
The vote count was 5,594 votes for approval, and 2,526 votes against.
The 20-year bond measure will pay for the purchase of the Sakai property — two parcels of largely undeveloped land that sits between Madison Avenue and Highway 305, and voter approval of Prop. 1 will increase the property tax bill for the owner of a $450,000 home by approximately $36 a year.
Supporters of Prop. 1 said the ballot measure was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to create a Winslow-area park that would serve the heart of the island. The Sakai land is across the street from Ordway Elementary, and it is the largest remaining mid-density, residentially-zoned property on the island. The 22.87-acre property had been previously eyed for development, and city officials have said more than 100 homes could be built on the Sakai land.
Supporters also noted the property boasts a 9-acre area that could be used for active recreation and sports fields, as well as a 2-acre freshwater lake.
Opponents of Prop. 1, however, said the cost of the land was too high, and said Bainbridge Island already has ample parks for residents.
The proposal saw a vigorous campaign both for and against the land purchase.
People for Parks raised $14,689 for its campaign and spent $10,625, according to the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), the state agency that serves as a watchdog on campaign financing.
According to reports on file with the PDC, People for Parks spent approximately $1,911 on postcards, posters and yard signs. A total of $1,260 was spent on newspaper advertising.
Affordable Bainbridge, the group opposed to the property purchase, raised a little more than $1,800 from four donors, according to the campaign.
The group said it spent $695 on 5,000 postcards, and postage totaled $809. Another $198 was spent on two rounds of robo calls made on Sunday, Jan. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 1 by Target Marketing USA of Mission Viejo, Calif.
