Bainbridge may be one of the largest islands in Washington's Puget Sound, but parks with water access are few and far between. When the City of Bainbridge Island hired us to develop a grant-worthy master plan for their Waterfront Park and City Dock, residents turned out in force - armed with passionate, often unique opinions about the park's future.

It is the largest of Spokane County’s parks, reaching from Liberty Lake to a mountainous ridgeline. Its uses are diverse, with camping, water access, playgrounds, an RV park, activity center, and miles of trails throughout. And the park is popular, with crowded facilities struggling to keep up with demand. The County needed to update its 1974 master plan, involving the local community in the process, prioritizing improvements to optimize the park’s experience, and preparing it for expected recreation demands.

SCJ Studio collaborated with the talented land use planners at SCJ Alliance to assist Pierce County Parks and Recreation staff with the 10 year update to their master plan. Our team developed a process of public outreach and communication that recognized the challenges of updating a park master plan, especially considering the centrality of the Chambers Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant and Chambers Bay Golf Course.