Filer recalls recall as Sakai Park talks advance

Adam Hunt has withdrawn his recall effort against four Bainbridge parks commissioners, but said it was a success because it got the community talking about Sakai Park after the district left it dormant for seven years.

"I want to keep the focus where it needs to be: meeting the needs of our kids, and politicians keeping their promises," he says in a letter to the Review. "It also seemed to bring out the worst in folks, with an unacceptable level of hostility and anger directed at myself and other Sakai Park supporters (including children)."

The recall focused on Commissioners Ken Dewitt, Tom Goodlin, Dawn Janow and Jay Kinney.

Despite the withdrawal Hunt is still upset with the district. It has spent so much money over the years studying what to do with Sakai. All the previous surveys are out of date, and the district has provided many of those amenities at other areas. So now it wants to do another study.

Local taxpayers also have been paying for a bond passed to purchase Sakai. This year alone the Sakai Park bond repayment cost taxpayers $512,825, he writes.

He also says the district played hardball against him. He said it sent out 10,000 emails in an effort against the recall. And he said the only audio on the district website was of a meeting May 19, but audio from other meetings that supported his cause were not posted.

Despite that, he's ready to move on. "With the recall dismissed, it's up to the community to decide where we’re going to go from here. I’ve noticed the sign at Saint Cecilia has recently read: ‘May the witness of your life teach your children love and forgiveness.’ That seems like a good place to start."

Parks meeting

At a recent Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation District meeting, Park Services Division director Dan Hamlin said that while it has been said that nothing has happened at Sakai, that is not true.

The Top 10 recommendations from the public survey in 2016 were trails, picnic shelters, multi-use outdoor complex with lighting, community recreation center, multi-use indoor complex, 50-meter pool, mountain bike trails, tennis courts, playground and passive uses. He said staff has looked for solutions that have cost less, could happen sooner and maybe even at better locations.

Trails were built at Sakai Park, and picnic shelters will happen in the future. A multi-use outdoor complex with lighting is planned for Strawberry Hill Park. And the district bought the BI Recreation Center, which serves many of the needs identified in the Sakai concept plan and was a fiscally responsible solution, Hamlin said in meeting minutes.

A multi-use indoor complex was a recommendation and the new district center has a gymnasium and indoor tennis courts. The mountain bike trails have been accommodated for at Strawberry Hill Park. A natural playground area is planned for Sakai near the orchard. Passive uses abound on the site — even with development, most of the site will be left natural, he added.

Later, the parks board decided to put two tennis courts at Sakai.

During public comments for youth, Mason Maxwell and Eddie Mauck supported an indoor sports facility, as did Oliver Maughan and Izzy Rufo-Hill. Quinn Scheer supported a larger gym for gymnastics, Christian Maughan supported a turf field, and Harrison Hardy wants Sands Avenue Ballfield improved. Brennan Hardy asked for better sports facilities for every sport, and Nicky Johnson for sports facilities at Sakai.

In adult public comment, Loanne Harmeling, Dawn Snider and Edith Cobourn supported tennis courts at Sakai, while Lisa Macchio did not. Debbie Wolf said that sharing the tennis/pickleball courts at Battle Point Park is a valuable lesson for adults and children. Joe Edgell wants Sakai uplands preserved, as does Carolyn Goad and Doug Rauh, while Ron Peltier urged mininal development.

George Rohrbacher and Erin Gardner support an indoor sports facility at Sakai, while Trea Coleman, Anya Harris and Hillary Scheer favor new gymnastics facilities.

Kathleen Dassel and Marina Worsley spoke in support of maintaining the arrangement for the shared tennis courts at Battle Point Park.

Walt Hannon said he is not in favor of the recall. Ed Labanara said he is opposed to the recall and said that the energy could be better spent collaborating.

Tony Gaspich said please be careful about how taxpayer dollars are being spent and that he hopes the recall effort to reach certain decisions does not affect the process.

Hamlin said there is unfinished business with Sakai Park and the replacement of the Ray Williamson pool.

Kinney said the cost of replacing the pool would be up to $60 million. Others want a fieldhouse. There are people who want a bond to do both. Janow said the surveys the district has are from 2016 and 2019. She said it is important to hear from the current community about what it wants and what it is and is not willing to pay for.

Commissioner Tom Swolgaard reminded the others that it took five tries to get the Don Nakata pool bond approved, and it had to be whittled down each try.

In other news

Hamlin said the last time the turf field was discussed was to say the estimate had come in higher than expected at $3.5 million. Staff has since talked to user groups and the Bainbridge Island School District to make sure efforts are not being duplicated. User groups are in support of moving forward with the synthetic turf field at Strawberry Hill Park. There may be a grant available.

The next step would be board approval to move forward with submittal of permit drawings, work with the contractors, and continued work with the Year-Round Fields Coalition and the school district. Hamlin said there are funding solutions to pursue. Janow said she is glad this project is back on the table as the board has been looking for ways to support youth sports in the winter months. The field area at Strawberry Hill Park where synthetic turf is being considered already has lights.