Kent - Former Seattle Supersonic James Donaldson and University of Washington Head Coach June Daugherty, accompanied by members of the women’s Husky basketball team, will join an array of elected officials including Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke and U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert at the grand opening celebration for the Springwood Youth Center in Kent at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 13.

The long-awaited Youth Center is the second of two planned community centers for the East Hills area of Kent. The first of these, the Kent Family Center, opened to the community in May 2004.

“The Springwood Youth Center is another means of bringing hope, help and opportunity to Kent’s poorest families,” said Reichert. “Kent is the only King County city of size without a Boys & Girls Club, YWCA or similar nonprofit organization to provide youth activities. That makes the Springwood Youth Center a critical community resource. Keeping youth engaged in constructive activities – be they recreational, educational or artistic – provides an extremely powerful tool for reducing crime and offers our children a safe and supportive place to learn and to play.”

The new Youth Center, a $3.4 million, two-story, 10,800 square-foot facility, features a gym, computer lab, classrooms for homework assistance and arts and crafts, a rec room and a commercial kitchen. The new facility was designed by ARC Architects and construction was overseen by the King County Housing Authority. Briere and Associates was the general contractor. It replaces a cramped, dark, outdated structure built in the early 1970s that was bursting at its well-worn seams with use. It is located on the East Hill of Kent in the Springwood Apartments complex, a 321-unit public housing development owned and managed by the King County Housing Authority.

Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke said, “Building Better Futures is a unique partnership created to start addressing the need for community facilities and programs in low-income communities in South County. In these tough economic times it’s great to see the Housing Authority, nonprofit agencies, the philanthropic community, the local community, business and government working together to help improve the futures and enrich the lives of many of our poorest families. The city is proud to be part of this venture.”

James Donaldson, who in addition to being an ex-professional athlete who played for

two decades in the National Basketball Association has also been recognized for his

extensive community service, is thrilled to see this kind of facility on the East Hill. “ Nearly 12 percent of households in Kent have incomes below the poverty line,” said Donaldson. “The Springwood Youth Center will provide a springboard for youth to develop healthy lifestyles, get academic support and learn leadership skills.”

The Springwood Youth Center offers a variety of programs and activities for middle and high school-aged youth. Most of the activities are free or are offered at a nominal charge. The Center will be run by Kent Youth and Family Services.

Building Better Futures is a consortium of four agencies: Kent Youth and Family Services, King County Housing Authority, the Puget Sound Educational Service District and the Center for Career Alternatives. It was established to support the development of services to low-income households in public housing and the surrounding community.

To date, funding for the Springwood Youth Center has been provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development, the City of Kent, the Medina Foundation, The Seattle Foundation, the King County Housing Authority, PACCAR Foundation, Boeing Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Norcliffe Foundation, and a host of individuals and businesses, mainly in the Kent and Covington communities. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Representatives Dave Reichert and Adam Smith and former Representative Jennifer Dunn have all been instrumental in securing federal funding assistance.