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closeYMCA study work begins
Community Center Task Force looks toward study results to be released later this summer
Roxanne Cooke
Tapps Island resident LuAnn Iselin wants to see a YMCA in the valley — particularly one in Sumner, where she owns a business.
Iselin, who owns A Picket Fence boutique on Main Street, used to drive 40 minutes to the Mel Korum Family YMCA on South Hill, she said. She gave it up because traffic was unpleasant and the center was getting too crowded.
“It was just not conducive at all to pleasant travel,” she said. “I had no problem with (the South Hill YMCA) whatsoever. It was just too far away and the traffic to get there was just more than I wanted to deal with on a regular basis. I think it’s undersized for the amount of people it has to service. Consequently, it makes it less attractive to be a member of such a great organization.”
Many others feel the same, and that’s why the Sumner Community Center Task Force was formed last fall. It’s made up of local community leaders and residents vying for a local recreational center such as a YMCA.
Earlier this year, the cities of Sumner and Bonney Lake agreed to split the cost of a $45,000 study to determine the likelihood that a YMCA would be financially viable. Work has begun on that study, to be conducted by Triangle2 research consulting company. The research includes surveying a random sampling of local residents as well as a few dozen city officials and leaders.
If the study’s results look favorably to having a YMCA in Sumner or Bonney Lake, the two cities would be responsible for 60 percent of the start-up costs, but the YMCA would pay for the other 40 percent as well as the operating costs.
Members of the Community Center Task Force are awaiting results, but in the meantime they are researching grants that could help fund their portion of the YMCA. So far, grants that are applicable are still two years out because plans for a recreational center are not quite in stone until the study is complete.
“At this point we aren’t far enough,” said Barbara Bitetto, a member of the task force.
The community center group is also looking into touring some local libraries for ideas on partnerships and including a library as part of the center, Bitetto said. A partnership could help with costs and would make the center more attractive as a single stop for multiple activities.
Until the feasibility study is complete — probably in July — the group will conduct research and continue to brainstorm ideas, but will wait for the results before taking a next step, she said.
“Having a community center seems to be something that would benefit our citizens,” Bitetto said. “We’re excited that there is interest in the Y and there is also interest from the city. It seems that the timing is right.”