OPINION: It's been 25 years since the City formally agreed to partner with the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) on sports field use, community programs, and other joint-needs. Well, in last week's study session, Council sat down with city staff and the LWSD Director of Finance Barbara Postumous to take a parting glance at a thoroughly vetted updated partnership.
LWSD agreed to rent 9,795 sf (25%) of their Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center on a five-year lease to provide "innovative space" for City of Redmond community center programming. The district will have the pre-school classrooms, a gym, and cafeteria space as voted in by last year's bond.
Space for: Redmond Historical Society meetings, popular Zumba classes, Adaptive recreation, adult volleyball, pickleball, youth basketball, art, and non-profits are provided in the lease. The space will be dedicated to the city and open until 9:30 pm. Anticipated revenue is $45,000 annually.
Jeff Hagen,city recreation program manager said gym space for youth basketball is at a premium with almost 800 children 1st-12th grade needing facilities. He will work closely with the district to maximize school gym capacity to accommodate this growing sport. Jeff will also schedule city owned parks, tennis courts and picnic shelters for school and city use.
My opinion: Council member David Carson gave a loud hoot during the meeting when "capital programs" were brought up. I firmly believe this inter-local agreement could lead to the installation of turf fields in key school locations. For one, LWSD owns the large, sometimes mucky and potholed athletic fields of Redmond El and the adjoining Old Redmond Schoolhouse. The District could "swap" the land for turf and lighting installations paid for by the city. (I coached MS lacrosse at Redmond El during rainy, dark, afternoons; no one else wanted to play there.) Lacrosse and cricket fields are in demand; a cricket field could be lined here. Perrigo Park already has two turf fields lined for lacrosse. Turf and lighting could also be installed at Redmond Middle School for cricket or lacrosse. Someday many LWSD fields will be turf, as in Bellevue.
B. Yoder
After this post was published Council member Carson wrote: "The city would be looking to leverage partnerships with associations that have funds for field development instead of general fund dollars. Also, the City of Redmond participates in a county-wide consortium to bring down the costs of turf fields."
LWSD agreed to rent 9,795 sf (25%) of their Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center on a five-year lease to provide "innovative space" for City of Redmond community center programming. The district will have the pre-school classrooms, a gym, and cafeteria space as voted in by last year's bond.
Space for: Redmond Historical Society meetings, popular Zumba classes, Adaptive recreation, adult volleyball, pickleball, youth basketball, art, and non-profits are provided in the lease. The space will be dedicated to the city and open until 9:30 pm. Anticipated revenue is $45,000 annually.
Jeff Hagen,city recreation program manager said gym space for youth basketball is at a premium with almost 800 children 1st-12th grade needing facilities. He will work closely with the district to maximize school gym capacity to accommodate this growing sport. Jeff will also schedule city owned parks, tennis courts and picnic shelters for school and city use.
B. Yoder
After this post was published Council member Carson wrote: "The city would be looking to leverage partnerships with associations that have funds for field development instead of general fund dollars. Also, the City of Redmond participates in a county-wide consortium to bring down the costs of turf fields."
Did anyone discuss how much artificial turf fields cost? When the baseball field next to the pool got turf on the infield, it cost $500,000 in 1997. The field had to be redone in ~2015.
ReplyDeleteThe soccer field (5&6) at Hartman Park got turf and lights a few years ago and cost $700,000. These fields need to be redone every 12-15 years. Also the cost of electicity for lighting is quite expensive.
It sounds like a great plan to add turf and lights, but for most of the year, when I drive or walk by these fields, they are vacant and unused. "If you build it, they will come" just doesn't seem to apply in Redmond.
Please contact the Parks Manager Administrator to substantiate your claims. Scheduling will be more efficient under this plan, with new scheduling software used under the watchful eye of Jeff Hagen. Capacity will increase as our city population grows.
ReplyDeleteThe city would be looking to leverage partnerships with associations that have funds for field development instead of general fund tax dollars. Also, the City of Redmond participates in a county-wide consortium to bring down the costs of turfing fields.
ReplyDelete