Fort Ward State Park
Encyclopedia
Fort Ward Park is a former state park
located along Rich Passage
on the southern end of Bainbridge Island
in Washington. Fort Ward Park is part of the Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Recreation District, on land which the former military base, Fort Ward
, was located.
Covering 137 acre (0.55441982 km²) of dense forest and underbrush, it is an area full of beauty. Impressive views of Rich Passage
, the Olympic Mountains
and varied marine wildlife can be seen at the park. Common activities include boating
, fishing
, picnicking, jogging
, walking and bicycling. Clam digging
, bird watching and scuba diving
are other favorite activities of park visitors.
Visitor services are available in downtown Bainbridge Island
or the nearby city of Poulsbo, Washington
. Both cities have various community events throughout the summer months.
There are two picnic areas located in the park. The lower picnic area along the beach is accessible only by foot or bicycle and has eight picnic sites. The upper picnic area is accessible by car and also has eight picnic sites. Each picnic area has vault toilets as well as potable water.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located along Rich Passage
Rich Passage
Rich Passage is a tidal strait in Puget Sound, allowing access to Bremerton, Washington, Port Orchard Bay and Dyes Inlet, and separating Bainbridge Island from the Manchester area of the Kitsap Peninsula. Due to the activities at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Rich Passage has a high volume of...
on the southern end of Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island, Washington
Bainbridge Island is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States, and the name of the island in Puget Sound on which the city is situated...
in Washington. Fort Ward Park is part of the Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Recreation District, on land which the former military base, Fort Ward
Fort Ward (Washington)
Fort Ward is a former United States Army coastal artillery fort, and later, a Navy installation located on the southwest side of Bainbridge Island, Washington, along Rich Passage.-Early:...
, was located.
Covering 137 acre (0.55441982 km²) of dense forest and underbrush, it is an area full of beauty. Impressive views of Rich Passage
Rich Passage
Rich Passage is a tidal strait in Puget Sound, allowing access to Bremerton, Washington, Port Orchard Bay and Dyes Inlet, and separating Bainbridge Island from the Manchester area of the Kitsap Peninsula. Due to the activities at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Rich Passage has a high volume of...
, the Olympic Mountains
Olympic Mountains
The Olympic Mountains is a mountain range on the Olympic Peninsula of western Washington in the United States. The mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are not especially high - Mount Olympus is the highest at - but the western slopes of the Olympics rise directly out of the Pacific...
and varied marine wildlife can be seen at the park. Common activities include boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, picnicking, jogging
Jogging
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running.-Definition:...
, walking and bicycling. Clam digging
Clam digging
Clam digging is a common means of harvesting clams from below the surface of the tidal mud flats where they live. It is done both recreationally and commercially...
, bird watching and scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
are other favorite activities of park visitors.
Visitor services are available in downtown Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island, Washington
Bainbridge Island is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States, and the name of the island in Puget Sound on which the city is situated...
or the nearby city of Poulsbo, Washington
Poulsbo, Washington
Poulsbo is a city on Liberty Bay in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is the fourth largest city in Kitsap County and one of the main suburbs of Seattle in the Kitsap area. The population was 9,200 at the 2010 census....
. Both cities have various community events throughout the summer months.
History
In 1903, Fort Ward was offically commissioned as a seacoast fort with the primary objective of protecting the Bremerton Naval Shipyard. Two gun batteries are located in the park. During World War II, the navy used the fort as a radio station and training school for communication personnel and installed a submarine net across Rich Passage. In 1958, the navy decommissioned the fort, and State Parks purchased Fort Ward in 1960. Ownership of the Park was transferred to the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District in the Spring of 2011.Facilities
Fort Ward Park has a public boat ramp and a parking lot for about 25 cars and boat trailers. The boat launch is concrete, donated by the Bainbridge Island Rotary Club. There are vault toilets located in the parking area near the boat launch ramp.There are two picnic areas located in the park. The lower picnic area along the beach is accessible only by foot or bicycle and has eight picnic sites. The upper picnic area is accessible by car and also has eight picnic sites. Each picnic area has vault toilets as well as potable water.