Plans are in the works for a regional indoor wrestling and four-court tennis facility near Chehalis Middle School for middle school wrestlers and for high school and adult tennis players.
Steve Ward, the recently retired vice president of finances and administration at Centralia College, is set to be the project’s construction manager.
“My retirement didn’t last long; I’m excited to lend my experience in overseeing the building of new facilities to this project,” Ward said in a statement.
The facility is the product of a partnership between the Chehalis Foundation, the Chehalis School District, the Centralia Foundation, the Lewis County Tennis Association and Chehalis Activators and is intended to boost Chehalis Middle School’s wrestling program and to give Centralia and Chehalis high school and adult tennis teams the ability to train, hold matches and tournaments regardless of the weather, according to a Chehalis Foundation news release.
“More than a 100 Tiger and Bearcat boys and girls play high school tennis every year. They learn a life-long sport. A multi-court indoor facility allows our student athletes to compete with players from anywhere,” said Chehalis tennis coach Jack State in a written statement.
A steering committee chaired by Jenny Collins, the Chehalis Foundation executive director, developed the initial plans for the facility.
“Tennis has been a very important part of my family, ranging from Nanna (in her 80s) to our youngest at 10. It is a multigenerational and lifelong sport,” said Collins in a written statement. “But in recent years we have lacked adequate indoor tennis courts, and this solution is another great opportunity for Lewis County youth to have access to facilities that can help further them as athletes regardless of their economic status. I am so excited about what this new facility will mean to our community.”
The facility is intended to enhance the area’s appeal as a sports, tourism and entertainment destination, provide a first-class multi-purpose venue for area residents and out-of-town attendees, increase the overall quality of life and livability of the area, capitalize on existing and planned tourism efforts, provide an opportunity for other potential development including private sector investment, foster relationships with area educational institutions, provide venues for the expansion of existing educational and sports programs and the development of new program in local schools, and to generate additional economic activity in terms of spending, jobs and earnings, said the Chehalis Foundation in a news release.
Ward was among the 10 members of the steering committee.
“Steve Ward is the most experienced and proven public construction facilitator in Lewis County. It’s a big boost for this project to have him on board,” Collins said.
Ward has been credited as the visionary and driving force behind the expansion and revitalization of Centralia College’s campus.
“There are many reasons why I want to help,” Ward said. “For one thing, this facility will be another valuable piece to attract new businesses and jobs to our area. It will bring adult and youth tournaments here which generates revenue for local businesses. It is necessary to give our local tennis kids the ability to compete with anyone and it will be a boost to the Chehalis wrestling program because Chehalis middle school wrestlers need a good place for their practices. We’re going to get this thing done and when we do, Centralia and Chehalis communities will be proud of what we built as a team.”
The $3 million construction project is scheduled to break ground in 2022. A fundraising effort will officially begin in November. Already, $800,000 has been pledged or donated to the facility, according to the Chehalis Foundation.
