During the August 14 City Council meeting, Councilmembers unanimously approved Resolution 1662 for the Phase 1 design services contract for the Community Center Expansion Project. The project will expand the existing building, located at Snoqualmie Community Park, and add an aquatics facility to meet community health and wellness programming needs, including swimming and water safety education.
The Community Center Expansion Project is part of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan which was approved by the City Council in 2022. The 2023-24 City budget contains a $15 million appropriation to help fund the project. The City was also recently awarded a $1 million King County Parks Levy grant that will partially fund the design contract.
The $1.89 million design-build contract was awarded to Absher Construction, Inc. and includes pre-construction and design services for the project that will add approximately 24,000 sq. ft. to the existing community center, including a swimming pool; additional multi-purpose space for meetings, classes, and other programming; more fitness space; locker rooms; community kitchen; and office space.
Work to be completed by Absher Construction includes planning, programming, and predesign activities based on community input, staff recommendations and coordination with stakeholders and project partners. The work will create a conceptual development plan with enough detail to evaluate optimal building configurations, operational factors, revenue generation, and construction costs.
The work scope also includes a guaranteed maximum project price for Council consideration and approval before moving forward with final design and project construction.
Design work will be completed over the next three months, with regular updates provided to the Council throughout the process. A near-final design and the guaranteed maximum price is anticipated to be presented to Council for consideration in late fall.
The City continues to explore collaborative partnership opportunities with the school district, as well as grants and state appropriations, to fund the Community Center Expansion Project. Determining design components and associated costs will improve partnership discussions.
“This phase 1 design contract is a major milestone for the Community Center Expansion Project, and I commend the Council for taking this momentous step,” said Mayor Katherine Ross. “The contract will assist the City in determining the project price to expand the community center. This expansion would enable the YMCA to provide important programs such as ongoing health and wellness, senior, youth, and aquatics programs.”
Snoqualmie Community Center/YMCA
The community center facility is owned by the City of Snoqualmie and is operated on behalf of the City by non-profit YMCA of Greater Seattle through a long-term agreement. The facility was constructed in 2011 using funds provided by the developer of the master-planned Snoqualmie Ridge community, real estate excise tax, and grants. The facility is open to the public and would continue to be when expanded. The City’s operational agreement with the YMCA, as well as the non-profit’s inclusive mission, ensures public access through free teen drop-in hours, daily passes, monthly memberships, and scholarship programs for those with demonstrated financial needs.
The existing undersized facility - also a designated City emergency shelter - is too small to support the current population which has grown approximately 30% since it opened. The Snoqualmie Valley is also severely deficient in aquatics space to meet the demand for vital swimming and water safety education, with only one 85-year-old small pool to serve the community.
For more information about the Community Center Expansion project, including a FAQ, visit www.snoqualmiewa.gov/639/Community-Center-Expansion.