Brynn Grimley, a fellow blogger and reporter with our local newspaper, the Kitsap Sun, recently wrote an article about the continued delays and frustrations surrounding the proposed Central Kitsap Community Campus.
One of the most vocal supporters and potential tenants for the future campus has been the Kitsap Regional Library. Prior to relocating to Silverdale WA, my family and I lived in Lawrence, Kansas, the home of the University of Kansas. Being an academic community, Lawrence had a very large and well-stocked library. When we moved here, it was disappointing to discover such small, limited facilities serving our area. With the strategic central location of Silverdale and the amount of continued growth, a larger expanded library facility makes total sense.
Last May, the Kitsap Regional Library Council placed a ballot intiative before area voters, asking to raise the levy lid by 18 cents. This would have increased the current levy of 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed value up to 48 cents (By law, the library is allowed to collect up to 50 cents). While passage of this measure wouldn’t have necessarily addressed the high price tag (est.  $50M to $100M) associated with the proposed community campus, it would’ve provided the added public support necessary to keep the project moving forward. Unfortunately, the measure failed to receive the simple majority of 50 percent.
So now, after over 8 years of discussion and planning, the hopes for a community campus are unsure.
However, newly appointed Central Kitsap Commissioner, Josh Brown is optimistic that the momentum will continue and hopefully construction can begin in the near future. Brown has recently met with officials from the YMCA and Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority to determine the needs of our community and how the proposed campus could best serve those needs.
Commissioner Brown stated:
“We’re going to be looking at any and all of the funding options for this campus.” Brown said. “We’re going to work with all interested community groups to make something happen soon.”
 
One such community group that will be directly impacted by the proposed community campus is C-STOCK (Central Stage Theatre of County Kitsap). C-STOCK, a local non-profit live theatre group since 1986, uses the present county facilities almost exclusively, producing 5 shows annually, including a Summer children’s theater workshop.
The Mission Statement of C-STOCK is:
To provide a community-based musical and dramatic performing arts organization for the purposes of:
- Presenting quality family entertainment
- Creating opportunities for children and adults to develop talents in all aspects of theatre arts.
- Providing recognition and support to encourage the youth of Kitsap County.
In my humble opinion, the only way for the proposed Community Campus to become a reality is for all interested community groups to pool their collective resources and efforts, and work together towards a common end. The more diverse of community needs are served by the proposed Community Campus, the wider and greater the public support will be.
