City seeks partners to develop community center, indoor fields at Caballero Park; RFP requires senior center element

The Lake Stevens parks department announced a request for proposals for a community center and indoor fields at Caballero Park, which the city accepted and for which the deed transferred into city ownership in October. "The city is soliciting a request for proposals for community center and indoor fields at Caballero," said Phil, the parks staff member who presented the department report.

The RFP leaves design and programming choices to proposers but stipulates mandatory elements, including a senior center component. Phil said the solicitation asks respondents to propose planning, construction and management for the facility. "What it is is left up to the proposal," he said, adding that the city has asked proposers to include a senior‑center element among required features.

Phil cautioned that the city has not identified secured funds to build or subsidize the facility. He said the RFP does not commit city capital; proposers can propose a range of funding approaches and the city will score proposals once received. Proposals are due Dec. 10; staff expects at least a week or two for scoring and likely will conduct interviews in January before taking any recommended partner or funding request to the City Council for consideration.

The department said the Caballero ribbon cutting occurred Oct. 21 and that the site transfer to city ownership took effect Oct. 20. Phil said some projects in the parks capital program are fully grant‑funded while others rely on a mix of grant match and impact‑fee resources; he warned that any request for direct city funding could delay the project timeline.

The next step is the proposal review and interview phase in January, followed by council consideration; staff said no partner selection will occur until after council review.