Longtime Bainbridge Parks director stepping back, acting director named

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND – Terry Lande, the longtime executive director of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park and Recreation District, is stepping back from leadership in the organization. The district said that Lande, who came on as the district's director in 2003, would be taking an extended leave of absence that would run through September and then head into retirement.

District commissioners approved the appointment of Dan Hamlin, who has been with the district since 2005 and has been its park services division director, as acting executive director at a meeting last week. The district said that either Hamlin would be named as the permanent executive director or district commissioners would begin a search for a new executive director. In the case of a search, the district said, Lande would return to the district's top staff job for 90 days during the hiring process.

“It’s an honor to serve this community as the acting executive director for the Bainbridge Island Metro Parks and Recreation District," Hamlin said in a news release. "I’ve worked with Terry Lande for 18 years. It will be my goal to continue the work culture and passion for providing quality parks and recreation to Bainbridge Island that Terry has accomplished."

Said commissioner Dawn Janow: “We’re grateful to Terry Lande for thinking this through and being mindful of the transition process so that there is as little disruption as possible."

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Acting director for Bainbridge Parks named during leadership change