The Blaine Community Center is under new management.
During an April 28 meeting, Blaine City Council voted 4-1 to have Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 (BBBPRD2) take over management of the facility, which was previously managed by the Blaine Senior Center (BSC).
Eric Lewis, who wanted the senior board to manage the center for another six months, was the lone “nay” vote.
The city of Blaine owns the community center, located at 763 G Street, and adjacent pavilion. The building is rented under the city’s facilities and open spaces policy.
The vote came after months of turbulence at the BSC, which has undergone multiple changes in leadership and governance. Former director Pete Nelson publicly resigned in December 2024 after months of negotiations with the board for more employment benefits.
Nelson’s announced departure led to a member vote to remove two former board members and Cheryl English was later announced as interim director.
BBBPRD2 and BSC submitted competing proposals to the city to manage the community center in February, with city staff recommending council choose BBBPRD2 to manage the facility. City manager Mike Harmon told council the park district’s proposal was “stronger on safety and governance,” compared to that of the senior center.
During the council discussion, Harmon said the city discussed the possibility of splitting management duties between the two entities, where BSC would manage during business hours and BBBPRD2 would manage early morning and evenings. Harmon said that possibility quickly fizzled during negotiations.
Councilmember Sonia Hurt, who is the city’s liaison with BSC and a senior center member, said she supported granting the contract to BBBPRD2.
“It’s become very clear to me that it’s in the best interest of everyone to have parks and rec running [the facility],” Hurt said. “I believe that that facility has to be a benefit for the entire community of Blaine, and I think we can only do that by doing parks and rec.”
BBBPRD2 director Heather Lindsay said the district does not intend to change senior center services that were provided to members between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and it wants to use the community center to provide after-hour services.
“The senior center program, of course, will stay the same,” Lindsay said. “Nothing’s going to change there. It’s just opening it up after hours and before hours for the community is what we’re focused on.”
BBBPRD2’s main office and activity center is located at 7511 Gemini Street in Birch Bay, and Lindsay said the district is in need of more activity space in Blaine.
Due to an increase in demand for BBBPRD2’s services in downtown Blaine, Lindsay said the district was searching for venues to grow. BSC representatives expressed disappointment in council’s decision, but said there was still much in the air in terms of negotiations between the board, BBBPRD2 and the city.
The senior center board held a membership meeting on Wednesday, April 30 to discuss possible next steps.
Senior center board representatives did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Hurt said she would continue to monitor BBBPRD2’s management of the community center, and fiercely advocate for seniors along the way.
“I will be certain that I will be there making sure that they work cooperatively,” Hurt said. “If I ever see parks and rec saying, ‘No, you can’t do things because we don’t think it’s good,’ I’ll be right there in their face. I’ll be representing the seniors, making sure that they’re heard, that they get what they want.”
Lindsay urged senior center members to reach out to BBBPRD2 with any concerns they may have.
“Come and talk to us,” Lindsay said. “Our door is open, and we’ll answer any questions and concerns they have. We want to be partnered with them. We are coming in to utilize the rest of the facility and we want to honor them and the work that has been put in to create a strong senior program in Blaine.”
