South Kitsap Community Event Center

Click here to view the Community Event Center Update Presentation held during the April 19, 2022, City Council Work Study meeting.

Here is a first look at the Architectural Schematic for the 1st and 2nd floors of the Community Events Center that was presented to the Port Orchard City Council. Prepared by Rice Fergus Miller, we can see how the two-story footprint will be distributed. The Library will enjoy a prominent position on the first floor of the building and outdoor covered space facing the water is a big part of the community event space.

The Imagine Port Orchard GUIDE

Here is everything you need to know about Imagine Port Orchard.

The Imagine Port Orchard IDEA

A group of community members and local businesses had a dream for the downtown areas of Port Orchard. They put their heads together and decided to make some amazing things happen!

Imagine Port Orchard is a movement. It's an idea that anything we can imagine, we can make possible if we work together as a community. If we can dream it, we can do it. Together.

Nothing is too big or too small. We care about forward-thinking vision as well as the small details that make up our daily lives. Our vision and attention to detail propel us towards future goals. We are all a part of Imagine Port Orchard and together we can create the changes we wish to see in and throughout our community.

What is the Kitsap Public Facilities District (KPFD)?

By state law, a portion of our sales tax is put aside for projects that create tourism and economic growth.

South Kitsap residents have been paying this sales tax since 2000 but our community has never been awarded funding for a project.

The Kitsap Public Facilities District decides which proposals are approved and how much will be funded for each particular project.

The money will be spent in Kitsap County one way or the other. It's simply a matter of which project brings the most growth and is the best fit for Kitsap County as a whole. This doesn't cost you or me anything. This isn't a tax increase. The money is there, it's simply a matter of deciding how to spend it and where - within Kitsap County.

How is a Project Funded by the KPFD?

Local Businesses and community members present their ideas for generating new tourism revenue. The KPFD is comprised of a Board appointed by our County Commissioners. Each district within Kitsap (North, Central, South) and our 4 cities - Bainbridge, Poulsbo, Bremerton, Port Orchard - have a representative on the board, 7 board members total who decide which projects will be most beneficial for our community and how much funding they will give to the project(s).

In 2019 a total of six proposals were considered along with our proposal for a Community Events Center (CEC) downtown on Bay Street.

Our community came out to show the KFPD that we WANT this! We are excited to build something that all of Kitsap can utilize and enjoy. We are excited to revitalize our shoreline areas and create space for new opportunities.

The KPFD voted the SKCEC the #1, most important project and was awarded the maximum from existing revenues. The people of the South Kitsap area had a great idea that not only benefits our community but it’s OUR turn to use resources that we’ve been paying towards growth in Kitsap County.

Will this project increase my taxes?

No. This funding will come from an existing pool of tax revenue that has already been taxed or will be taxed in the future. This is does not create any new taxes, we are already paying this tax as Kitsap County residents.

Could this funding build a new high school?

No. By state law this funding can only be allocated to projects that create tourism and jobs through the construction of public facilities.

Project Information

The South Kitsap Community Events Center will provide a central gathering place and multi-purpose facility in downtown Port Orchard that will support a multitude of functions for local and regional use. The facility will house the City’s Regional Library branch and support the community through public use of event and meeting space both large and small.

In 2019, the Kitsap Public Facilities District allocated up to $12 million in phased funding to support this project. The South Kitsap Community Event Center will be the first-of-its-kind for the South Kitsap area. This project has the potential to build the economy, engage the community, and be a catalyst for other development in Port Orchard.

For more information about the project, please visit the Imagine Port Orchard website.

On September 22, 2020, the City Council approved a public participation plan that described the public outreach that would occur for this project.

On October 20, 2020, the City Council was provided a progress report on this project. Click here to review the report.