PORT TOWNSEND — Many attending a workshop Thursday night on planning Fort Worden State Park’s future shied away from expanding it into a full-blown conference center.
“I’m trying to save the arts and education aspect of the park,” said Port Townsend resident Marsha Slomowitz.
Thatcher Bailey, Centrum executive director, said the arts and creative education center long based at Fort Worden would still exist under a conference center option but as a smaller entity.
Putting emphasis on a conference center does not attract the arts, he said, but the conference and retreat option would add more to the city’s economy.
About 50 people turned out for the session led by Fort Worden Manager Kate Burke, state parks planner Peter Herzog and PRR, a Seattle-based firm specializing in community development.
Comments taken Thursday night will be noted and worked into a final Fort Worden planning recommendation that will be brought back for another workshop for finalization.
After that, the state parks commission makes a final decision.
Two options
Five original options for the park were whittled to two: A Lifelong Learning Center or a Retreat and Conference Center.
Other options considered were an arts and culture center, a visitors’ retreat, a regional park and nonprofit/small business campus, a university and educational center and an education and conference center.
Renovation costs for a learning center would run to about $26 million, parks officials estimate.
The conference center could cost about $32 million.
“Our commission and our director have said we want to make a splash for our 100th anniversary” in 2013, Herzog said.
“We’re trying to do a lot with a little.”
He said whatever is done, “We need it done in a way that’s sustainable” to avoid a decline in facilities.
Ellen Sollod, a consultant with Sollod Studio Artists, said that Fort Worden as a learning center would include arts, humanities, environmental education and serve basically as a “learning lab.”
This option would engage more people over the year, she said.
A retreat and conference center would target social groups, family reunions and small conferences and emphasize use over the slower tourism season.
Barbara Swift, with Swift and Co. Architects and working with PRR, said housing would stay the same under both alternatives.
She said the Park Administration office building has been proposed as an informal library, business center and coffee break place.
In addition, she said, the existing gas station building would be good for a coffee shop.
The old gym building could be converted to a laundromat for park visitors staying for extended periods.
She said the park’s western side appears to be the best area for expansion.
The NCO Building could be converted to a 40-unit accommodation.
A swimming pool could be considered as part of the retreat and conference center, she said.
