By David Menz
Island Forum
The Mercer Island School Board members did extra work last Wednesday evening, listening to citizens, one-on-one, who spoke up about the PEAK proposal. Tomorrow, the board votes on whether to commit further resources to clarifying its public-private partnership with the Boys & Girls Club (BGC) for building a field house, teen center, and parking lot on our school land.
I suggested to board members that voting “no” to further consideration of partnership with BGC is a supportable vote. Working to build our own school spaces, when and where we want, is preferable to giving control of a large amount of scarce and irreplaceable school land to BGC, and supporting BGC with cash and lease, as a way to accomplish just some of our educational goals.
Sustainability. Will we look back in five years and say, “How did we let ourselves get into this?” With PEAK, the school district (MISD) would become landlord to a speculative venture. Why has BGC not shown detailed business plans, market data or operational and maintenance budgets? BGC has no local experience operating a 40,000 square-foot sports complex and teen center with 150 parking spaces.
PEAK would have a cyber café, game room, recording lab, arts studio and more. (Remember the recent teen cyber café downtown? Remember the bowling alley? The disco?) Teen centers require labor-intensive supervision and technically knowledgeable staff for the specialty centers. Teen center costs are rarely covered by membership revenue.
BGC points to a Federal Way teen center as the model, but that center is not yet operational, and relies on public subsidy: free land, no rent, school participation in operational costs.
Demand. Some teens may want to hang out at PEAK or they may not. Teen programming demand at the current BGC is not large. Increasing numbers of teens are involved in after-school sports. They have large homework loads. Some have jobs. Some explore M.I. Youth and Family Services’ community service opportunities. Others are involved in family activities or in their faith organizations. Our city is increasing its gym and programming capacity at the community center. Teen demand for PEAK seems speculative.
Land. PEAK’s large footprint severely limits MISD’s ability to build for future educational needs.
On an Island already suffering rapid development and loss of open space, a vote for PEAK sets two major construction developments in motion, forever changing the character of two Island neighborhoods. First, the large BGC property on West Mercer Way would be sold for profit for development. And the second, between 86th Avenue and the high school to build PEAK.
Sports losses. A plan for PEAK is to build on the large, well-used, recently improved sports field north of the stadium. It is 80 x 80 yards. If saved, it could be expanded by future projects at the North Mercer campus. That field is usable by baseball, track, soccer and lacrosse teams year-round. BGC cannot destroy a prime, public sports field and claim it is doing something positive for Island athletics.
There is a possibility of shifting PEAK’s footprint from the sports field toward 86th Avenue, but BGC keeps all options open.
Addition of PEAK facilities (four basketball courts) is offset by facilities eliminated, such as the basketball court, outdoor play areas, and possibly the T-ball field at the current BGC, and possibly the 1.3 acre field at the high school.
PEAK represents a generous offer to build a community asset, but it does not pass all the tests. I support the Boys & Girls Club, but not PEAK. A “no” vote allows BGC to renovate its West Mercer Way campus to improve its delivery of services to our youth.
David Menz and his family are long-time Island residents. He is an attorney, a Boys & Girls Club volunteer, and soccer coach.
