In Seabeck, developing a community project with a boost from the Port of Bremerton

Seabeck community members have been asking for more investment from the Port of Bremerton for years, as part of the entity's taxing district but miles away from the port's hubs on the Bremerton and Port Orchard waterfronts, airport and industrial park.

But with a two-phase project centered around pickleball, commissioners are beginning to make headway. Funding for the Seabeck Community Center's second project, a pocket picnic area, has been secured with $15,000 from the Port, and now residents have launched a campaign to raise $125,000 for completion.

The small town set along the eastern shore of the Hood Canal is situated in the Port’s third district, despite the Port owning no land in the area. In years past, taxpayers have complained about paying property taxes to a district they’re not seeing much immediate return from.

The Port’s mission is for job creation, infrastructure and improving quality of life, said Commissioner Axel Strakeljahn, but he admitted it’s hard to break ground in Seabeck.

“District three is a real difficult area in which to do public investment because there's not a lot of public land available and there's very little waterfront access or industrial properties," Strakeljahn said. “There's just so many environmental limitations.”

Strakeljahn represents District 3 and said he’s been looking for investment opportunities in Seabeck throughout his tenure.

Community members expressed interest in seeing the Port take over and complete Seabeck’s Olympic View Marina about a decade ago, hoping the municipality’s involvement would allow developers to get a sufficient loan to finish the project. But developers had signed an agreement with the Department of Natural Resources to build the marina.

“When something's privately owned, a municipality doesn't necessarily have jurisdiction over what the owners can and can't do,” Strakeljahn said. “That makes it a little bit more difficult for a municipality to have any impact on private property.”

It was much the same story with Seabeck’s Misery Point boat launch. Former Kitsap County commissioner Josh Brown expressed interest in the Port taking over the design with state approval in 2008. But the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife owns the property. Strakeljahn has communicated his interest in the proper maintenance of the the ramp to the state director.

More recently, when the Port saw a viable project in the Seabeck Community Center’s pickleball court project last year, commissioners voted unanimously to invest $50,000.

After the courts were completed, resident Paul Reimer approached the commission in June, asking the Port to invest $15,000 that would allow the Seabeck Community Center to build a picnic area alongside the courts for community members to gather.

The Port supported that investment as well, and Strakeljahn pointed to how the project can help bring some broader economic potential to the small community.

“It was just a real good connectivity with maintaining the quality of life in our community,” Strakeljahn said. “I think it was a good decision because if you look at (the pickleball courts) today, it brings people to Seabeck from all over the region — from Bainbridge, from Gig Harbor. They have tournaments there now. Anytime somebody comes out to a community, they hopefully leave something positive behind, whether they shop at the general store or whether they visit the boat ramp or whether they go to the Scenic Beach State Park.”

Visits to Seabeck are high during summer and spring with eagle watching, crabbing, shrimping and water sports, said Seabeck Community Center Executive Director Kurt Schnuit, who also expects the pickleball courts to draw visitors.

The community center aims to install picnic tables and benches in time for their members appreciation barbeque event on Sept. 23, Schnuit said. The center envisions a pavilion, natural playground and power and water supply in the park as well. The pavilion and playground will require approval from the Central Kitsap School District as well as permitting for the pavilion.

The community center estimates they'll need $125,000 beyond the Port's commitment. The Seabeck Community Center is holding an online "brick fundraiser" where community members can buy and engrave bricks of three different sizes, which will be installed in the walkway separating the pickleball courts from the park area. Other funding is coming from community contributions, Schnuit said.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Port of Bremerton investment opportunity in Seabeck pickleball