Tag Archives: City of Wenatchee

Hawkins to lead stakeholder discussions on regional aquatics center

Local leaders to explore how local governments could work together to construct and operate a modernized pool facility, including Olympic-sized outdoor pool, water slides and splash pad.

Sen. Brad Hawkins will be kick-starting discussions among local leaders on Sept. 15 about joining forces to identify a new, long-term outdoor pool solution in the Wenatchee Valley.

With the Wenatchee City Pool, constructed in 1965, in significant need of repair, Hawkins and some local leaders believe now is the time to collaborate on ideas for a new, modernized facility to benefit the area’s growing communities.

Hawkins, who recently sponsored capital budget funding to assist the city of Wenatchee to repair its aging pool, believes keeping that facility operational in the short term is a priority, but he thinks a new, modernized facility for the region is better for the taxpayers and public over the long term.

“The Wenatchee City Pool has served us well for over five decades, but it will need significant investments just to keep it operational in the near term,” said Hawkins. “It would be more cost effective, more equitable, and more beneficial in the long term for our communities to join together to support a regional solution.

“Now is the time to collaborate about options because we might be able to develop a plan for an outdoor facility to serve our growing region for the next 50 years. That would be incredible for children, families, and local employers while provide lasting quality-of-life and economic benefits,” added Hawkins.

The envisioned facility could include an Olympic-sized outdoor pool to replace the Wenatchee City Pool, a zero-entry children’s pool, splash pad, and water slides along with ample parking, picnic, and restroom facilities. Hawkins has held positive preliminary conversations with Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz and East Wenatchee Mayor Jerrilea Crawford and plans to expand the discussion to a larger group of stakeholders on Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Confluence Technology Center in Wenatchee.

Invited guests are expected to include cities, counties, regional port authority, swimming organizations, and other stakeholders. One potential location for the facility could be within the undeveloped 283-acre “Wenatchi Landing” area in Douglas County, just south of the Odabashian Bridge.

Hawkins believes the Wenatchee Valley or its two-county area is definitely large enough to support the facility.

“When you combine the population of our area, we are actually much larger than some of the communities that already have these facilities, so this could definitely happen, if we want it. I think it would be tremendously beneficial to our community. We need more things like this for children, families, and employers,” he said.

As part of his exploratory process, Hawkins has been reviewing existing state statutes and drafting legislation to authorize local governments to join together to form a regional aquatics district.

 (PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured is an example of a regional aquatic facility that Sen. Hawkins hopes could someday serve the growing communities in Chelan and Douglas counties. Shown in the photo is the Oxford Aquatic Center in Oxford, Ohio.)

Hawkins gathers Senate transportation leaders for Confluence Parkway discussion

City of Wenatchee’s Mayor Frank Kuntz, LINK Transit’s Richard DeRock, and Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council’s Jeff Wilkens emphasize the importance of a second bridge across the Wenatchee River.

As transportation leaders in the Legislature move closer to releasing their transportation budget proposal during this year’s legislative session, 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins today brought key leaders of the Senate Transportation Committee, their staff, and local officials together for an important discussion about the Confluence Parkway project in Wenatchee.

In addition to the expected supplemental budget proposal for this session, some lawmakers are discussing the possibility of also unveiling a new, additional set of transportation improvement projects. Hawkins, a member of the Senate’s Transportation Committee, wants the Confluence Parkway project to be in the mix.

“Legislators are getting closer and closer to developing the next statewide transportation investment package, so we need to communicate how important the Confluence Parkway is to our community’s future,” said Hawkins.

The meeting, held via Zoom, included Hawkins; new Senate Transportation Committee Chair Marko Liias, D-Everett; Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima and Republican leader on the Senate Transportation Committee; Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz; Laura Merrill, executive services director for the city of Wenatchee; Jeff Wilkens, executive director of the Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council; Richard DeRock, general manager of LINK Transit; Kelly Simpson, senior staff coordinator and counsel for the Senate Transportation Committee; Jenna Forty, staff analyst for the Senate Transportation Committee; Hannah McCarty, senior transportation policy counsel to the Senate Democratic Caucus; and Martin Presley, transportation policy counsel for the Senate Republican Caucus.

“I’m grateful for the extended conversation today and for the many people who participated,” said Hawkins. “The timing was strategic in that discussions will likely take place in the coming weeks or months about identifying needed transportation projects in Washington. I want Senator Liias, the new chair of the Transportation Committee, to know how important this is to our valley.”

Liias assumed the role of Senate Transportation Committee chair following former Sen. Steve Hobbs’ appointment as Washington’s secretary of state.

The $134 million Confluence Parkway project would help mitigate the growing traffic challenges in north Wenatchee near the Wenatchee River. Funding includes $49 million from a recent federal grant, leaving $85 million needed to complete construction. The project includes a new roadway and new bridge connecting to the U.S. 2/97 interchange. Kuntz, DeRock and Wilkens highlighted the project in a PowerPoint presentation – click here.

 

Hawkins excited about federal grant for local transportation projects

State Sen. Brad Hawkins of the 12th Legislative District applauded today’s announcement that a federal grant has been approved for the Apple Capital Loop project in Wenatchee.

The $92.4 million grant by the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) will be used to construct a network of projects on the 11-mile loop, including intersection improvements to State Route 285/North Wenatchee Avenue, construction of a railroad underpass on McKittrick Street, and replacement of a signalized intersection with a roundabout at U.S. Highway 2/Easy Street. It will also create an approximately 2.5-mile bypass of SR-285, replace an at-grade intersection with a half-diamond grade-separated interchange, and widen a segment of State Route 28.

“The INFRA grant award is a monumental moment for our local transportation efforts,” said Hawkins. “A big congratulations to Mayor Frank Kuntz and all of our local partners who have been steadfast in their efforts over multiple years in pursuing this grant. I was proud to support it and thank our federal officials for their advocacy and efforts. This is beyond exciting for our region. A gigantic win that cannot be overstated!”

In a letter sent this April to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Hawkins wrote, “As proposed, this grant will fund a package of extremely important transportation projects throughout the Wenatchee Valley and will improve safety, mobility, system reliability and congestion relief for citizens and businesses across the region.”