King County OKs $2 million for White Center community center project

Oct. 31, 2005

King County OKs $2 million for White Center community center project

The King County Council today approved a $2 million appropriation as part of a partnership plan to construct a new, 20,000-square-foot community center in White Center's Lakewood Park that will provide a focal point for activities for youths and families.

King County Executive Ron Sims is expecting the Lakewood Park Community Center project to move forward while an additional $6 million in capital funds are secured from other sources.

"I commend the County Council for supporting a project that is so important to White Center," Sims said. "This community center will be a hub of education and recreation for families."

"This is another important building block in the foundation for White Center's future," said Dow Constantine, who represents the neighborhood on the King County Council. "For years to come, this center will benefit kids, adults, and the entire neighborhood by providing education, technology training and a place for us to gather as a community."

King County is developing the community center in partnership with the Technology Access Foundation (TAF), an organization that has been working with southeast Seattle's K-12 youth to help develop the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century.

"We are delighted to receive such a generous investment from King County," said Trish Millines Dziko, Executive Director of the Technology Access Foundation. "Our goal is to provide free technology and 21st century skills training for K-12 students."

More information on the Lakewood Park Community Center is available online at www.dnr.metrokc.gov/parks/lakewood. More information on TAF is available online at www.Techaccess.org (external link).

Public Architecture is also partnering with King County on the Lakewood Park Community Center. Public Architecture engages in a variety of design projects for traditionally underserved communities and also coordinates a national program called the "1% Solution," sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. More information on Public Architecture is available at http://www.publicarchitecture.org/ (external link).

Public Architecture secured the involvement of the Seattle architecture firm, Miller Hull Partnership, to work on the Lakewood Park Community Center. Nationally regarded as a leader in regional, green, and sustainable design, Miller Hull received the 2003 Architecture Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects. More information on Miller Hull Partnership is available at http://www.millerhull.com/html/mh.htm (external link).

Today's County Council action is the latest step toward achieving Sims' White Center Community Enhancement Initiative, a $15 million investment to provide services and a foundation for future public and private investment in the White Center community. Additional initiative projects include:

Greenbridge Hope VI Development
King County has made a major investment in the Greenbridge Hope VI project, a King County Housing Authority development that will replace 569 units of severely distressed public housing with a model mixed-income community.
New sidewalks in Central Business District
King County is providing funding for existing sidewalks on both sides of 16th Avenue Southwest from Roxbury Street to Southwest 100th Street. About 60 pieces of community-designed artwork will be integrated into the sidewalk along the length of the project.
Façade Improvement Program
King County is offering low-interest loans to commercial property owners to restore and enhance their storefronts.
Zoning changes to encourage redevelopment
New zoning is in place to revitalize underdeveloped parcels on the east side of 15th Avenue Southwest between Southwest 98th Street and Southwest 100th Street, by allowing mixed-used development, housing and more retail.
White Center Bog/ Urban Connector Project
King County is collaborating with the White Center Community Development Association to provide a safe and attractive pedestrian corridor between the new Greenbridge community and the Central Business District along 98th Street.
Flood reduction and water quality enhancements
King County has invested in a series of infrastructure improvements to reduce flooding. These enhancements will provide residents with greater opportunity to enjoy the natural environment in community parks and open spaces.
Natural resource stewardship
King County awarded grant monies for urban forestry projects. The funds support habitat restoration and tree planting in Lakewood and White Center Heights parks, provide summer jobs for White Center youth and engage adult volunteers and students from three local schools.

King County is the regional and local service provider in unincorporated areas, including the North Highline area, where White Center is located. When a community becomes part of a city, the county continues to provide regional services, but local services including roads and parks are provided by the city.