City Council Selects Name for New Community Center

 Posted on: August 22, 2022

Citizens give testimony asking for "Senior" in the Center name.

  (click picture to enlarge)

REDMOND, WA – At their Aug. 16 business meeting, members of the Redmond City Council voted ( *four to one) in support of naming the City’s new community center the Redmond Senior & Community Center. The name recognizes the new facility as a space for all generations to enjoy, gather, and recreate. Throughout the robust naming process, community members shared that they appreciated the name’s descriptiveness and that it clearly identifies the building as a place where seniors can feel comfortable and welcome. 

The name was selected in accordance with the City’s process for naming new city facilities and included extensive community outreach and involvement. Initially, 31 names were collected from key stakeholders and then staff reviewed the options and narrowed the list to three. This list was shared with the Redmond community for feedback at community events and in an online questionnaire, which received nearly 350 responses. Following this outreach, Parks and Recreation Department staff presented the options and feedback to the Parks and Trails Commission, which put forward a recommendation that was presented with the feedback to City Council. The Council discussed the recommendation and alternative names at length and determined the approved name was the best suited for the new building.

“We are excited for this important milestone and thank everyone who shared their voices throughout the process,” said Mayor Angela Birney. “We are now one step closer to providing a new welcoming space in Redmond that is designed for all ages to recreate, meet, and build community.”

The Redmond Senior & Community Center will be a 52,000-square-foot facility. The building will utilize LEED-certified materials, efficient energy-conserving systems, and rooftop solar panels which will provide 50% of the building’s electricity. The City began outreach for the project in 2020, which confirmed Redmond’s need for a larger center to serve the senior population, while also serving the entire community with cultural arts, events, and multigenerational recreation experiences and gathering space.

The new community center is slated to open in late 2023 on the site of the former Redmond Senior Center, adjacent to City Hall on Redmond’s Municipal Campus. The design concept includes a senior lounge and library, a multipurpose community room with a commercial kitchen, active recreation areas and gym, locker rooms, classroom and meeting space, and a supervised Kid Zone for Redmond’s youngest community members.

For more information about the project, visit redmond.gov/RSCC.

Comment:  * David Carson, Steve Fields, Jessica Forsythe, and Malissa Stewart voted "yes," Jaralee Anderson voted "no." Vanessa Kritzer was on family leave, and Varisha Kahn didn't show.  (Ms. Kahn is about 25 years old.)  

Surprisingly, the debate on "name" took several meetings and was contentious at times. I personally didn't hear one citizen give pro-Red Oak CC testemonity.  Staff pushed hard for Red Oak.  Council member Steve Fields concluded "we are very fortunate to have this community resource, regardless of name." Applause from both sides followed  -- Bob Yoder