Taking action on community campus tops CKCC’s priority list

With the start of another year, Central Kitsap Community Council members are looking toward the future and it is clear that getting an action plan started for the Central Kitsap Community Campus is a priority that’s high on their list for 2006.

“(We need to) lay out clearly where we are at, where we have to go, what is in our way, and how do we get there with the community center and try to get that ‘octopus into the suitcase,’” said Dave Peterson, member and past president of the CKCC.

The community campus — a vision that has been several years in the making — is designed to one day include a new Kitsap Regional Library, senior housing, youth and senior centers, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Precinct Office and cultural and recreational facilities. Situated between the Silverdale Community Center and Silverdale Regal Cinemas, the proposed campus area was officially designated last summer with two signs.

“Our No. 1 priority is to get something on the community campus moving,” said CKCC president Hank Mann-Sykes.

Several of his peers on the council share that same priority. On a list of 2006 goals, 11 of the 15 members who wrote down their goals wished to get the ball rolling on the campus.

CKCC member Carol Smiley listed “promote Central Kitsap Community Campus to gain public awareness and support” as one of her council goals for this year.

“Have the county commissioners contract a master plan for a future development of the entire community campus property,” she wrote. “We need to take the necessary steps to develop a program, explore site options and establish an optimum overall site plan incorporating all campus components prior to groundbreaking on the library!”

Student member Kristofor Nyquist, a senior at Central Kitsap High School, also sees the importance of support not only from the public, but also from the CKCC.

“I would like to see the CKCC further its support for the community

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