Poulsbo takes possession of land for ball fields

POULSBO — After 11 years, the city of Poulsbo has taken possession of nearly nine acres near Olympic College’s north campus, the city announced Tuesday.

The property will eventually become sports fields intended to offset the College Market Place development. The 8.7 acres will be developed into multi-use ball fields, said Mayor Kathryn Quade.

The property is located south of Olympic College Poulsbo’s parking lot and NW Reliance Street.

The requirement for the open-space area was approved by the city council in 1998, and was turned over by Olhava and Associates.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Quade said.

Another parcel was originally intended to be used for the sports fields, but it was deemed unsuitable.

Because of a proposal to buy the building where many of the city’s parks and recreation programs are located, owned by Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority, the city will likely push back other parks projects until 2010, Quade said.

The building is expected to cost about $500,000 and require about $100,000 over five years for improvements.

About $10,000 will likely to be set aside in 2010 for designing the new sports fields near the college, Quade said, and the city hopes for residents to assist in the design. Construction on the park could cost about $250,000.

“It’s not just going out and planting seed,” Quade said.

The city intends to design the open space for use by sports leagues from lacrosse to soccer to baseball.

“We’d like to see it used as much as possible by as many groups as possible,” Quade said

Contact North Kitsap Herald Staff Writer Andrew Binion at abinion@northkitsapherald.com or (360) 779-4464.

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