Hey Fellow Suzuki Trail Blazers:
After two years of hard work and dedication, the finish line is in sight!
Trail Status:
- As of April, we hit a wall with efficiently working by hand to build the trail.
- Bainbridge Parks Department generously offered to donate their time, equipment and additional funding ($4100 estimated total cost) to help us finish the Suzuki trail.
- Volunteers raised about $2000 that will go to Parks Department for materials.
What’s left to do:
- The Parks’ trail work will start July 12th and last 2 weeks.
- Parks staff will work by hand and use efficient machine work to grade slopes, build rock bridges and culverts, and finish the path with gravel.
- Parks only has 2 weeks scheduled to knock out the 800 foot trail, before it has to return to work on other commitments.
Call for 1 Last Volunteer Work Party:
- To meet their tight schedule, Parks has asked for our volunteer help for hand labor on Saturday, July 17th.
- Need to clear by hand tools, two 10-foot stretches for an alternate path so machines can access and grade the trail.
- Need our help carrying base rocks or gravel with wheelbarrows, etc. to speed up the trail work.
- If additional work is needed, please pencil in Saturday July 24 on your calendars to help out.
Let’s Celebrate:
- We will schedule a BBQ to celebrate the opening of the Suzuki Trail in the Commodore West Open Space on Sportsman Club Road the weekend of July 25th or July 31st to celebrate.
- We’ll let you know the final date as the trail gets closer to being done. Please join us and celebrate!
Community Collaboration at its Best!
- What an accomplishment from “Our Community of Neighbors”- Folks from Commodore and North Town Woods, students who raised funds, volunteer trail advocates-especially John Grinter and Don Willot, Bainbridge residents, community organizations- Friends of Bainbridge Trails, Association of Bainbridge Communities (Frank Stowall, Charles Schmid, Linda Owens) and Sportsman Club; local businesses-Bainbridge Rentals for their donated equipment, Safeway, local media-BITV, Bainbridge Review, The Islander and Kitsap Sun, the City for donating the trail easement, the City Council Members for their support and last but not least, the Parks Department -especially Arlan Elms, Dan Hamlin – to help us realize this 2-year trail project!
- The Suzuki Trail will provide safe passage for kids to school, better safe access between neighborhoods and recreational trail opportunities for our island community.
- In the bigger city wide trails plan, as part of the Sportsman Club Corridor trail, the Suzuki Trail will help connect the southern and northern ends of the island with non motorized trails providing wonderful recreational asset to our island home.
- Thank you to everyone for your help in realizing this trail and community asset.
Trailblazers, please let us know if you can make this last scheduled trail party on July 17th.
We need at least 10 to 20 good pairs of hands to help out Parks. wheelbarrows, gloves, mattocks, shovels, clippers would be helpful.
If anyone wants to help out with the bbq or donate funds for the bbq, please let us know.
As always, THANKS for your dedication, support, generous donations, and hard work!!!
On behalf of all the trailblazers,
Our Sincere THANKS,
Laurie Rice and Dianne Stever