From the Vashon Park District
Board President
It is my honor to serve one more year as Chairman of the Vashon Park District Board of Commissioners. We are the elected body you’ve charged to oversee the application of policy to the District’s budget, programs, buildings and parks maintenance. And, we take that seriously.
Vashon is an island of parks. We commissioners are residents and park users, like you. And, like you, we want to be sure all Vashon residents get the most benefit possible from our parks, within our fiscal and human limitations. I think we do a pretty good job of that.
You may not know that the Vashon Park District manages 18 Island parks, provides after-hours citizen use of school facilities and delivers hundreds of programs per year to thousands of Island residents for just under $1,000,000 with a staff of only 11 full time and 3 part-time people. We’re trying to make your real estate tax dollars work hard for you, and we urge you to give us your creative suggestions for how we can get more of what you want into our parks.
I invite you to attend a Commissioners’ meeting on the second or fourth Tuesday of any month, 7:00 p.m. at Ober Park. The agenda for our next meeting is on the Minutes page of this website. Check it out and you might find we’re making decisions about a park or program near and dear to your heart. We’re more likely to make decisions you’ll agree with if you show up to give us your opinions. Or, simply stop one of us on the street. We’re happy to listen.
When all is said and done, the parks belong to all of us and we Commissioners are merely your agents in managing Vashon’s beautiful collection. Help us do the best possible job by communicating with us.
Thanks for supporting Vashon’s Park District,
David Hackett
President
Vashon Park District Board of Commissioners
How the Board Works
Vashon Park District is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners who are elected every four years. Each candidate runs for a specific open commissioner's position.
In November, 2007, Vashon residents re-elected Bill Ameling to his sixth term - an amazing 20+years of service to Vashon Parks. And, they elected new Commissioners, Mike Collins, retired from the timber industry, and Joe Wald, an island contractor. Mike and Joe were sworn in by Chairman David Hackett at the Board's December 11 meeting. Welcome A-Board, Mike and Joe!
To qualify for Park District Commissioner, a candidate must:
Be a Vashon-Maury Island resident
Be a legally registered voter
Not have a criminal record or conviction of a felony
Employees of the Vashon Park District are precluded from serving on the Board of Commissioners.
Current Board of Commissioners
David Hackett, President
Liaison to: Vashon Commons, Arts programming, Youth sports
Special Interests:
- Partnerships with other island organizations
- Programmatic side of parks
Mike Collins , Treasurer 
Liaison to: Paradise Ridge, Ober Park/Library, Land Trust, Island Center Forest, Seniors
Special Interests:
- Parks and trails, e.g., hiking
- Public relations – reaching out to groups, e.g., senior center
- K2 Commons
- Equestrian groups
Kristin Pesman, Vice President 
Liaison to: BARC, Lisabeula, Village Green/restroom
Special Interests:
- Collaborating with other island groups
- Programs – wide variety
Bill Ameling, Secretary
Liaison to: Pt. Robinson/Fern Cove House, Wingehaven
Special Interests:
- Stay out of problems that aren’t the Park District’s – stay focused
- Cement reputation as thinkers – take the high road
- Conduct should be deserving of respect
- Maintain accountability - what’s in the budget
- District as well-run organization
- Inform the public about the Park District
- Transparency in government
Joe Wald, At Large Member
Liaison to: Jensen, VES, Agren, Burton Acres
Special Interests:
- Youth and adult sports
- Outdoor activities
- Water-related parks