Kingston got some much needed and appreciated attention April 10 with a visit by State House Speaker Frank Chopp, who met with the Kingston Community Center Foundation and Village Green Stewardship Committee to learn more about plans for a new community center, park and senior housing. Chopp has offered his support for state funding in the 2009 legislative session to help get the Village Green project underway.

“We really want to support these kinds of projects,” Chopp said.

The community center foundation used the opportunity to not only give Chopp details of the project, but also an eyeful of the state of the current community center, library, senior center and Village Green site. Accompanying Chopp were Representatives Sherry Appleton and Christine Rolfes, and Kitsap County Commissioner Steve Bauer.

Appleton arranged Chopp’s visit after a funding request for Kingston was cut from 2008 legislation. With Chopp’s visit here, she hopes when he comes across funding requests from Kitsap County next year, he’ll know more about the projects – and people working to make them happen.

“We’ve been given a wonderful opportunity with the Speaker’s visit and his very evident connection with and enthusiasm for this wonderful project,” Bauer commented after the visit.

The community center foundation and stewardship committee are creating a business plan detailing the vision, costs, user groups, partnerships, funding strategies and timetable for the project.

Chopp’s visit to Kitsap County, where he grew up, also included a tour of the Silverdale Community Center and discussion of the future community campus there, and dinner with the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council.