This 40-acre park is on the former site of Port Blakely Mill, one of the world's
largest sawmills in the late 1800's. This park will be developed for passive recreational
use such as picnicking, kayaking, and wildlife viewing.
On December 15, 1999, the initial 20-acre parcel was purchased by the Bainbridge
Island Park District from Port Blakely Tree Farms, following several years of negotiations
by the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, the Park District, and other island volunteers
to preserve this historically significant property. The purchase was made possible
through a grant from the Interagency Commission for Outdoor Recreation, $1 million
raised through Land Trust volunteer fundraising efforts, and support from the City
of Bainbridge Island and Kitsap County.
An additional 18 acres was purchased in November 2001, increasing the total Blakely
Harbor Park acreage to 40 acres.
In the late 1800's, the property was the site of Port Blakely Mill, one of the world's
large sawmills. The mill closed over 70-years ago and nature has reclaimed much of
the area making it uniquely suited for a waterfront park.
Yama is the 7-acre portion of Blakely Harbor Park that was once the site of the Japanese
community associated with Blakely’s lumber mill era and an important link joined
with other immigrant labor and indigeous endeavors that helped make Blakely significant
in the 19th century. The Bainbridge Island Historical Society is currently working
on a preservation plan for this historically and archeaologically significant portion
of the park.
