About the Neighborhood

Pleasant Beach is a community that lies near the southern end of Bainbridge Island on Rich Passage. With many of the homes lining the beach, the sunny, low-bank waterfront is considered by many as “The Gold Coast” supplying views of what seems like endless mountains plus the ease of access to all types of water activities. At the end of the road lies Fort Ward Park, offering a generous 137-acre marine park, a public boat launch, 4,300 feet of saltwater shoreline, open park space, picnic tables, and a walking path and trails. The lifestyle at Pleasant Beach is a friendly and relaxed one as you will frequently see residents out walking or biking, often they're headed to Lynwood Center, which is just under a mile away, for a quick bite or a stop at the bakery. Lytle Beach, a quaint, sandy public beach on Pleasant Beach Road, is also a popular stop as it offers space for lounging, kite flying, swimming, sunsets that will stay with you forever, and of course, the annual Polar Bear Plunge on which takes place on January 1. Only about a 7-minute drive to Winslow, a small-town neighborhood feel, and in the Blakely Elementary school district, Pleasant Beach is a prime place to reside.

Fun Facts about nearby Fort Ward Park: Many of the structures in the park reflect the historic military significance of the area, but the park is well-developed for day use. There is an underwater park for scuba divers, a two-lane boat ramp, and a long, rocky beach along Rich Passage. This park is on the Cascadia Marine Trail. There are 12 unsheltered picnic tables with grills.

Fort Ward Park History: After World War II, the U.S. Navy used a radio tower (once located adjacent to the park and east of the upper picnic area) to send messages to Navy Command in Seattle at Pier 91. In 1903, Fort Ward was officially 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 on June 4, 2011.

Neighborhood Highlights