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valued, such as on an island located only a brief ferry ride away from downtown Seattle. All of which leads to a 30-acre plot of private land on which the parcel’s owners wanted to build some 15 homes on the downhill slope bordering the preserve, which is owned and looked after by the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District. Owners of six parcels sought a public road easement so residents could gain access to Marshall Road, which dead ends at the north end of the park. Walt and Nora McGraw, a couple with two young children who live closest to the north entrance to the park, opposed (“Save Gazzam”) the easement because the proposed paved road through the park would go across a portion of their property. And also because they want the land to be permanently protected. The landowners filed a lawsuit in 2008 and there was a stalemate for a period after a judge denied the plaintiffs’ request for sum-
mary judgment. Eventually negotiations began because the property owners realized the opposition was formidable and getting their money back was the best approach. So the park district, which wasn’t part of the lawsuit, agreed to pay about twothirds of the purchase price of $800,000 sought by the owners; and $225,000 would be raised by the community (“Keep Gazzam Wild”). The deal would then be consummated by April 22, 2012. “We’re about $70,000 short right now,” fundraising director Karen Molinari said Tuesday. “We’re optimistic that we’re going to make our goal on April 1. We had a slow start, not really getting under way until last fall. We realize it’s tough right now for any fundraising effort, but it’s important for the island.” Legally, if the drive isn’t successful, then the deal’s off and the lawsuit could be kick-started again, said Ryan Vancil, the park district’s attorney. “It’s anyone’s guess what would happen if they do come up short,” Vancil said. “They could negotiate an extension of the option, though it would certainly increase the cost. And the
Map of Proposed Road
The red line indicates proposed road. The yellow parcels will purchased by the park district.
district board could decide to go ahead and pay what’s remaining, though that hasn’t been brought up.” There’s also the possibility of a bridge loan granted by the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, which is acting as the fiduciary agent for Keep Gazzam Wild. But the campaign, according to Molinari and others, is beginning to gain momentum.
“We’re letting people know about the situation and we’re getting some positive feedback in the form of large donations,” said Molinari. “So we feel good about it.” One of the selling points is that this is a window of opportunity that soon may close. This point of view was made clear by naturalist Stan Rullman, who is currently on the IslandWood staff and
Friday, February 3, 2012 • Bainbridge Island Review
evaluated the Gazzam Lake Preserve in 2010. He said: “Projected growth patterns in Puget Sound indicated that more conversion of forest land to development is inevitable, despite the current downturn in the economy and slow down in new construction. This lull in development and decline in property values may indeed allow for the acquisition of key properties at lower market values, making this a most cost-effective opportunity.” There’s no doubt, Molinari pointed out, that a price of $27,000 per acre for land that would offer west-facing views of the Puget Sound is a good deal and is indicative of the good faith of the current property owners. Another point made by Rullman and others, including Walt McGraw, is that the undeveloped parcels located in a key downslope area west of the lake, and any development there would dramatically alter the amount and quality of the interior forest that makes the preserve such a valuable resource for wildlife and Puget Sound residents. “It would ruin it,” McGraw said while walking through the park with his 3-year-old
son Wiley, who appears to have taken to the land as if it’s his back yard – which it is. “Now, there’s really very little access, especially on the south side of the lake. But what’s so remarkable is the quiet, the silence. There’s no drone of vehicles. The only noise here is that of nature.” As Rullman said in his report: “The one thing that stands out prominently is the relative silence from people and their sounds. …It’s a protected soundscape, where the loudest sound is the chorus of frogs, the laughter of children and the tumbling song of the Winter Wren.” The people and groups involved in saving the pristine part of the island have no doubts about the importance of putting a permanent hold on the property. And if you’re a doubter, they suggest taking a walk through the reserve’s four miles of trails.
Walk Gazzam trail The campaign will offer walks at Gazzam each Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. on Feb. 11 from the Marshall Road entrance. For more information or to donate, visit www. keepgazzamwild.org.
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