Are all your meetings or event needs being met in Anacortes?
If not, what features and amenities would be of interest to you?
These are among the questions being asked in a questionnaire by supporters of a community center large enough to host conventions and other large gatherings. Proponents of a community convention center are forwarding questionnaires to as many people in the community as possible in an effort to gauge public support for such a facility on Port of Anacortes property.
“As you know, there is a lot of community interest in having a community center, which would have larger meeting spaces to accommodate local meetings and events that are too large for currently available facilities,” said Anacortes City Councilwoman Cynthia Richardson in a message attached to one of the questionnaires.
“The Port of Anacortes is considering making some property available for a community center next to the proposed marine skills school, where the Relay for Life track is now, provided that funding can be obtained from grants, fundraisers and donations,” she said.
Port Executive Director Bob Hyde said the marine skills center planned for a 6-acre site at Seafarers Way and Q Avenue includes plans for an assembly area for up to 150 people. An independent group of citizens hopes to obtain funds to expand the facility, which will be jointly operated by the center and the port.
“They have come to us and expressed an interest in expanding it to a larger room,” he said. “This is a group of influential folks in the community.”
Richardson said such a facility could be valuable for civic events, conferences, tourist activities, weddings, reunions, church events, classes and meetings.
“It will take a couple of years to plan and fund, and this is just a start. Gathering this information will be very useful in the planning stages, and in getting the port’s support,” she said.
Hyde said some port commissioners have expressed interest in such a project. He said the marine skills center has a tight construction time frame, but plans include room for expansion of the assembly area in the future.
The questionnaire will assess the need for such a center and begin to determine what facilities it should include. It asks what type of seating configuration is preferred, whether kitchen facilities be used, what size the center should be and what events might be held there.
Bev Martin will compile the responses and present the results to the port at the June 19 Port Commission meeting. She can be reached at .
