Leavenworth outlines roadmap for Upper Valley Community Center project

LEAVENWORTH — The Upper Valley Community Center project is gaining momentum, with an opening of a combined aquatic center, library, and community gathering space estimated for 2031, according to the city’s new Recreation & Tourism Manager.

A road map was presented to the council by Recreation & Tourism Manager Steven Rubinstein during a May 26 study session, which included estimated timelines, progress updates and an overview of the possible formation of a Public Facilities District (PFD).

Rubinstein, who was hired to the newly created position in April, is coordinating the feasibility, design, and construction of the project, located at the Osborn property.

According to Rubinstein, the project vision has grown to include using the facility as a community resilience hub. In the event of an emergency, a resilience hub can offer power, refrigeration, communications and safety — a need that was highlighted during the December storms, he emphasized.

“Essentially, it's just a place for the community to come and feel like they have a safe space to be in these disaster situations,” said Rubinstein.

Becoming a community resilience hub, he added, opened a significant amount of grant funding that would otherwise be inaccessible. Rubinstein said he was currently in the process of applying for other grants, which will help with feasibility and planning efforts. A formal steering committee is also expected to be formed, which will include members of the community.

“This project is supposed to be for the community, by the community,” said Rubinstein. “We want everybody to be super excited about this.”

The recreation and tourism manager told the council that the rest of 2026 will be focused on laying the administrative groundwork for the formation of a PFD, a municipal corporation empowered to own, operate, and manage certain public facilities serving regional populations.

PFDs can impose a number of taxes, fees, and charges to fund their activities and operations, including a voter-approved 0.2 percent sales tax as well as general obligation and revenue bonds.

The formation process will begin once the council grants approval, which will include a feasibility study, appointing a PFD Board of Directors, and initiating a Upper Valley Park & Recreation Service Area (PRSA) boundary expansion study, according to Rubinstein’s timeline. Next year would then be focused on preparing schematic designs and ballot measures for a PFD 0.2 percent sales tax and a PRSA boundary levy.

If the measures are successful, Rubinstein anticipates the subsequent year will be dedicated to financial planning, public fundraising and grant applications, before the project moves into the next phases of design, permitting and construction.

“The PFD and the PRSA alone are not going to pay for it. There's a huge grant, but then also a huge private donation element to this that's really going to be the bulk of it,” said Rubinstein.

Councilmember Anne Hessburg expressed concern about the length of the projected time between pre-design, design, permitting, and construction, asking if some steps could be done concurrently for an earlier completion date. Rubinstein said progressive design‑build could be pursued, but required state authorization wasn’t guaranteed. He also stood by his conservative 2031 projection.

“There's a world where it's possible that we could get it done sooner,” said Rubinstein. “It's safer to assume that things are going to take a while…I think that's a responsible estimate for when we get the door open.”

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media