Plans For A Pool, Plaza and Soccer Make A Splash With Yakima City Council — Dave’s Diary

And so it begins. An exciting new chapter in the city of Yakima got underway today with the council moving forward on a capital projects funding plan.The council agreed to team up with the YMCA to build a new swimming pool and aquatic center as part of the YMCA’s western expansion.  The council also agreed to form a partnership with a couple of individuals to build a state of the art soccer complex for Yakima.  Those two projects will cost a combined $725-thousand a year in debt service- which is currently available in the general fund and won’t cost taxpayers any additional money.  It’s nice to see an investment being made for something positive as we certainly spend plenty fighting crime and making repairs.

The council also committed to work with the airport to provide funding for improvements there to spur economic development and full utilization of the valuable community resource.

Finally it was my pleasure to be able to make the motion to fund the downtown plaza and plaza area street improvements plan.  The city will partner up with private business, service groups and visionaries with a little spare cash to produce a 14 million dollar plaza to serve as a Game Changer for downtown by being an economic driver, oasis, fun family gathering spot, concert and events venue and so much more—also without any additional taxation.

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ow the planning can get underway in earnest, now Yakima’s future can start to shine a little brighter.  On the calendar winter may be about to set in but the season of hope, effort and accomplishment is underway in Yakima. And you know what?  We deserve it.