The Sumner City Council voted unanimously Tuesday, Feb. 19 to help fund a feasibility study that would determine if a YMCA in Sumner or the surrounding area is a viable project.
“As citizens, we don’t have the information we need,” said former Sumner mayor Barbara Skinner to the council. “The Y does.”
The study would cost approximately $45,000 and Sumner hopes to split it with Bonney Lake. It would be conducted by the YMCA but the city would have a chance to help formulate questions as well.
The community center group met again last weekend, drawing almost 20 interested Sumner and Bonney Lake residents. It was the fourth such meeting the group has hosted, and it will meet again next month. The task force group began meeting last fall and invites anyone interested to attend and share their thoughts on the idea of having a local recreational gathering space.
At the meeting, Arts Commission member Jan Sanford brought up the idea that using the Sumner Senior Center as a “satellite” to a larger YMCA building would help better utilize the center.
Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow reminded those in attendance that the senior center is in a residential area, and the idea may receive opposition from the neighborhood. Parking is limited, traffic may become an issue and the seniors at the center may not like the idea, he added.
Although using the Sumner Senior Center in the plan was tossed around as an idea, nothing has been set in stone.
A popular location that task force members and other residents continue to mention is the former QFC site on the east side of Main Street, but a study would help to see if that’s practical.
The focus of this particular meeting appeared to be offering children something to do that keeps them healthy, active and away from bad influences and obesity.
“All my life, I’ve heard kids say, ‘There’s nothing to do in Sumner,’” Skinner said.
This is a group of people that sees the need and wants to do something about it, she continued.
“I think we all know the demand is here,” said Councilman Leroy Goff, who has lived in Sumner for more than 70 years.
The group decided tentatively on a mission statement: “Build a place for people to work, play and learn together to enhance and enrich the livability of the Sumner area while preserving its heritage.”
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