Topic: Fort Worden Planning Changes

[uncle bud]

This is for Centrum's Port Townsend Country Blues Workshop attendees. I am assuming that many of you like me recently received email from Thatcher Bailey, Executive Director at Centrum, requesting input on the planning process currently taking place regarding the future of Fort Worden. If not, I reproduce it below for your enlightenment. In it, Thatcher provides a link to a section of the Fort's website housing various documents regarding the planning process.
http://www.parks.wa.gov/plans/ftworden/

On this page, the two documents that seem to be required reading are

(3) Fort Worden Planning Opportunities and Constraints.pdf (783 kb)
-updated: 9/6/2006 1:55:55 PM

(4) Fort Worden Plan Options.pdf (756 kb)
-updated: 9/21/2006 9:06:24 AM

Has anyone read through the documents and can anyone give a brief summary of the plans? The first is relatively heavy in boilerplate management consultant-speak, and I confess that when I read documents that use words like "over-arching" I quickly becomed sedated and start to drool on my laptop. The second document seems to be the latest phase and provides a clearer picture of possible options. I plan to read in further detail later, but thought perhaps some of us are already "in the know". Obviously, the big question for all of us Weenies is what if any impact will this have on Centrum and its ability to continue providing the best workshop experience.

Here is the message from Thatcher:

 Dear Friends and Guests at Centrum and Fort Worden State Park,

In January of 2005, Centrum patrons and guests were contacted via email to give input on the vision and mission for Fort Worden State Park. From that input and the input of the community, stakeholders and partners, we developed a final vision, mission and guiding principles for the park and its future. This was the first step in the development of the long range plan.

Last summer, Washington State Parks along with Fort Worden's park partners began work on a long-range plan to guide program development, historic preservation, and business administration at Fort Worden. For the past year Park Manager Kate Burke, agency staff, and members of the Fort Worden Advisory Committee have been busy collecting information, researching peer facilities, and enlisting help from visionaries in arts and environmental programming, sustainability, public and non-profit administration, architecture and historic preservation. In May 2006, the group completed a highly competitive process to select a team of consultants to facilitate and provide technical support for the planning project. PRR, a Seattle-based firm specializing in community development, was chosen to lead an accomplished team of architects, landscape architects, financial planners, hospitality experts, arts program developers, and public involvement specialists in a collaborative planning effort with agency staff, volunteers, and partner organizations.

An initial step in planning is to identify the full spectrum of opportunities and constraints the planning process should consider. In late August, the consultant team, working extensively with Fort Worden staff, partner organizations, and members the Fort Worden Advisory Committee, completed a Fort Worden Planning Opportunities and Constraints report.

Since completion of the opportunities and constraints report, the Fort Worden planning team has begun the next phase of planning and crafted two distinct conceptual plans for development and management of the park. The planning team presented the two concepts, Life Long Learning Center and Retreat and Conference Center, to the Advisory Committee and public. We received their feedback and now we want yours. If you are interested in helping shape the park's future, we want you to go to the website, http://www.parks.wa.gov/plans/ftworden - Fort Worden Plan Options. Please review any of the other documents too. Please give us your feedback in this format:

What excites you about these concepts?

What concerns you about each concept?

What would you like to add?

Email your comments to: Fort.Worden.Planning@parks.wa.gov by October 6th.

Thank you for your continued support of Centrum and Fort Worden State Park.


email: thatcher (at) centrum (dot) org
phone: 360-385-3102
web: http://www.centrum.org

[jed]

Unca Bud,

Yo.  Thank you for bringing this up.  You've probably plowed your way through these documents by now, but here's my quick and momentary take, for what it's worth:

This whole thing is coagulating as a result of the WA State Parks' 2013 Centennial deal.

What I divined from Thatcher's letter (I received a somewhat different version) is that Centrum, at best (Option A: Center for Life Long Learning), stands to become a "house band" in an outside-run consortium of (mostly?) non-profits, all of whom would share the facilities.  I believe an overwhelming hue and cry from current participants, minor and major donors, and possibly 8,000 Port Townsend residents, may be necessary to retain as much of the Centrum learning tree as possible.

One thing's for sure:  It ain't simple.  Note a few things:

  The first document mentions Fort Worden, not Centrum, as an arts center.  While this move can be assumed to be a fait accompli, note that 1) some of Centrum's current functions are used as examples from which to model new offerings (One notable example for onsite 2006 Weenies is mentioned in Sec.26, in the Culture and Hospitality section:  "BBQ./.Picnic.and.Officers?.row.houses..."), and 2) Centrum, as the Fort's de facto arts and culture liaison, will still have office space. 

  Under Option A, the Centrum office makes way for classrooms; under Option B, it becomes a spa.  That's plenty of information to make a decision about the two choices (though I could really use a decent swimming pool).  FYI, both plans move Centrum to the existing Park office.

  The word "Centrum" is mentioned twice in the Plan Options document - both times relating to office relocation.  There seems to be no official recognition of Centrum in either Option.

  However, of the five "thematic" whatsiz defined in the consultants' hubbub, the Arts and Culture Center model, not surprisingly, got the most "a lot" dots.  Here, if anywhere, is how Centrum's legacy can continue to influence the fort's future.

  Note that Weenies are part of just one beloved workshop.   Our collective interest (including those of one Mr. Madcup) may be well served by exploring communications with other workshop participant groups.

We're getting what we're getting.  My opinion is that we'll get more of it if each and every participant, and possibly at least one group o' people, writes to Peter.Herzog (at) WA (dot) PARKS (dot) GOV, to let him know that we each and all know that Centrum's vision, as the guiding light of the Fort's rejuvenation, deserves the highest consideration in all future plans for the Fort.

Cheers,
Jed

One more thing:  If Kenny G (who is mentioned in one of the documents) ever steps foot on the grounds for any purpose other than to offer a large donation to Centrum for supporting independent and creative artistic activities, I'm going to hurl (respectfully, of course) like never before!

[uncle bud]

Well, that's clear then. 

Actually, my reading of the documents, particularly the last one, seemed to suggest less dire things in store for Centrum and more recognition of them as a crucial part of the Fort's arts and education mission SHOULD things end up following Option A, which seemed to be the favored option. I'm going to have to look again. Maybe they have new documents up? Pulling the old switcheroo?
 
Based on your post, it all sounds much more disturbing. I need to reread. I'd encourage all Port Townsend Country Blues Workshop participants to take a look at the documents (I know, I know, they're freakin' boring and long, but that's how bureaucrats and politicians sneak things by people every day) and offer vocal support of Centrum to the Parks guy Peter Herzog as suggested by Jed.

UB

P.S. I know what CD I'm getting Jed for Xmas: Rollin' and Tumblin' with Kenny G...

[jed]

UB,

Not meant to disturb (except for the Kenny G bit).  And I think multiple views are necessary to absorb the meanings of the various blurbs.  One bottom line, by my reading, is that, by 2013, participants will be served by a "consortium of other organizations" (quoting the letter I received), whether or not we register at camp in front of the relocated Centrum office. 

Frankly, I don't see Centrum going away, I see plenty of Centrum vision in Option A, and I expect that Thatcher is working expressly in Centrum's interest during the process.  I do see that, as participants - for whom Centum is a soul-nourishing artery (ganglion?) - we can influence how much of what we value is included in the planned result. 

Of course, if some generous world citizen with upwards of $26M(US) in his or her back pocket were to come along (B Wyman?  Paul A?  OK - Mr. G?), it might cut through some red tape.  And it might be anti-peristaltic.

Cheers,
Jed

BTW, Peter Herzog was the commentee mentioned in my letter from Thatcher.

[Temple]

Well, when I get tired of reading this stuff I could read something lighter, like the disclaimer that comes with my package of sudafed.  I did pour through the document entitled "Consequences of Business as Usual" because I liked the title.  Sounds like one of Mark Twain's Letters to the Electric Company.  Anyway, this was interesing:

"Growth in both the park?s conference center business and Centrum?s residential arts education programs increasingly places these two important park functions in competition for space and agency resources."  If you read further it sounds like they are arguing for a conference center with more technical resources, making arts workshops cost prohibitive without underwriting. The good news is, they don't have all the money to upgrade and will probably keep accommodating us artist/musicians who don't mind the current downhome facilities. 

Frankly, I think they are thinking aloud at this point and don't know which direction to go. It's comforting to know that Jed is going to contact his friend Kenny G and ask for a small $$$ contribution.

Temple