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Tumwater staff outline two possible community center sites; public outreach set for January–February
Summary
City staff presented options for siting a new community center: a ~10-acre former DOT site on Capitol Boulevard and a 20‑acre Port of Olympia site off Kimmy Street. Staff proposed community outreach (Parks Commission Jan. 21, public open house Feb. 4) and said cost and infrastructure analysis remains pending.
City staff updated the Tumwater City Council on two candidate sites for a proposed community center and outlined a public engagement schedule to collect neighborhood input.
Director Chuck Denny told the council on Dec. 2 that the Capitol Boulevard site, previously used for Washington State DOT offices, is about 10 acres and offers a central location but requires site cleanup. An alternative 20-acre site on Port of Olympia property off Kimmy Street would yield more green space but needs extensive infrastructure and had not yet been included in public outreach.
Denny said the city has narrowed preliminary analysis to those two options but needs more detailed cost estimates, grant and development evaluations, and community input before recommending a preferred location. Staff proposed discussing the project with the Parks Commission on Jan. 21 and holding a public open house Feb. 4 to present pros and cons and gather resident feedback.
Council members asked about consultant costs and contract status; Denny said consultants remain under contract but are on hold pending clarity on siting choices and further council direction. No final decision was requested at the meeting; staff will return with a more comprehensive list of pros, cons and estimated costs after the outreach period.
The presentation was informational and will be followed by the scheduled public engagement.
