Commissioners review three community center site options; port offers 20-acre recreation parcel

Tumwater’s Southern Parks and Recreation Commission discussed three candidate locations for a proposed community center and next steps for community engagement and feasibility work.

Parks staff told the commission that the first option — the former brewery/port parcel downtown — is centrally located but faces environmental cleanup, floodplain and railroad-access constraints that would require substantial site preparation. Staff said cleanup would likely involve Ecology and the Washington State Department of Transportation, and that the paved, 10-acre parcel leaves limited room for future expansion.

The second option covers two airport-area parcels on Tumwater Boulevard and nearby; city discussions with airport staff indicate strong reluctance to lease the city the airport’s most valuable frontage, and staff described those parcels as expensive with limited opportunities for barter or favorable terms. A third option on Kennedy (Kimmy) Street between Bush Middle School and a school bus barn is roughly 20 acres, large enough for the current program plus future expansion, though staff flagged the current lack of bus service and sidewalks as development constraints.

Commissioners were briefed on a parallel proposal from Port of Olympia staff to set a 20-acre recreation district on port-held land that could be leased or transferred to the city on favorable terms (staff said examples exist where port-owned land was sold or leased to public entities at nominal cost). Parks staff said the port is exploring options to set aside a parcel while Panatonia (a regional developer referenced in prior discussions) continues to pursue industrial uses elsewhere on port property. Staff said the council and port conversations are recent and the proposal would require more formal steps before the commission or council can commit to a site.

Staff described a feasibility review under way that will compare hidden and visible development costs for the sites (stormwater, sidewalks, utilities, fire access, and site remediation). Timing differed by location: the port/brewery site could take multiple years if state cleanup or DOT processes are slow; the Kennedy Street/Bush Middle School site could be built sooner but will require investment in frontage and transit access. Staff said they will hold an additional public meeting to solicit input from neighborhoods south of the airport and other stakeholders.

The commission and staff agreed to keep the steering committee and public outreach active while feasibility and site-cleanup work continues. Staff said a community steering committee and at least one additional public meeting are planned; precise dates were not specified.