Green, Kelley Ensure District Projects Financed in Budget 

March 13, 2008

Olympia – The House and the Senate agreed to a final version of the Capital Budget on Thursday.  Advanced by the efforts of Reps. Tami Green (D-Lakewood) and Troy Kelley (D-University Place), the adopted budget includes funding for community projects throughout Pierce County.

Green and Kelley helped ensure $1.4 million needed to complete the Chambers Creek Pedestrian bridge, which links trails and the Chambers Creek golf course to the beachfront.

“The Chambers Creek waterfront should be open to the public,” stated Rep. Green.  “Construction of the pedestrian bridge will provide access and recreational opportunities our community has not had in nearly a century.”

Chambers Creek Golf Course was selected to host the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open—the first one ever held in the Pacific Northwest.

“The bridge builds on development occurring throughout the area,” explained Rep. Kelley.  “Completion of this project will help set the stage for the U.S. Open.”

The budget also allocates $500,000 for Union Avenue Redevelopment, a project providing housing assistance for residents in the Tillicum area.

“The Tillicum project is really about community building” stated Rep. Kelley.  “The budget only provides part of what we need to help with the revitalization of this neighborhood, but it starts the process, and we will continue to work on this.”

Legislators provided $4 million in support of the Cascade building at Pierce College, Fort Steilacoom.  During a renovation, a project contractor discovered water leaks and mold affecting the building exterior.

“We provided funds to help ensure the building is properly and safely repaired,” said Kelley.  “We want students to be able to return, and resume their education as soon as possible.”

Funding was also secured for a variety of community facilities desperately needing attention, including the Western State Hospital. 

“We included nearly $2 million in laundry upgrades for Western State Hospital,” stated Rep. Green.  “It is unacceptable that the institution struggles to find resources to meet the basic health needs of patients.”

$51,000 was earmarked to help restore the Titlow Beach Pocket Estuary, a critical habitat for juvenile fish preparing to leave for the open ocean.

Green and Kelley also ensured $50,000 to help preserve a 2-ton powder train, the historic link to DuPont’s long-past commercial explosives industry. DuPont citizens began working with the Army Corps of Engineers to restore the train in 2004, but the city was not able to afford to construct a canopy to protect the train from the elements.

The adopted version of the Capital Budget will be forwarded to the governor.