Si View center’s re-opening discussion in progress

Published 12:52 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

NORTH BEND – The Si View Community Center will re-open, but when and under what management is still uncertain.

The five elected commissioners for the voter-approved Si View Metropolitan Park District who have been charged with determining the direction in which the mothballed facility will head, have begun the process of breathing new life into the Valley recreation staple that has been closed since late December.

When the facility will re-open is dependent on a number of factors, including negotiations with King County regarding the title transfer, acquisition of capital improvement money and securing insurance.

“We’re working as quickly as possible,” said Kevin Haggerty, chair of the commissioners.

Last year King County announced it would transfer 10 swimming pools to cities as its parks department attempted to trim $10 million from the 2003 budget in response to the county’s $52 million budget shortfall. North Bend said it did not have the money to operate the facility and immediately put together a task force to look into the available options to save Si View. That group evolved into a resident-based campaign to save the community center.

For the complete story, pick up a copy of this week’s Valley Record