黑料福利社

The Yakima City Council will keep the Washington Fruit Community Center open through the end of the year聽鈥� bringing a sigh of relief from community members who were bracing for a June 30 closure.

The center, which is located next to Miller Park in east Yakima, offers programs ranging from senior exercise classes and free youth taekwondo lessons to family nights and afterschool childcare. Due to budget challenges, however, the long-term future of the building is uncertain.

Last year, the council passed a balanced 2026 budget with around $9 million in cuts, including cuts to the parks and recreation department that would force the Washington Fruit Community Center, the Harman Center and Lions Pool to close.

After hearing hours of public comment from patrons at all three facilities, Council members set aside enough one-time funding to keep the Harman Center, which offers programs for seniors, open through December and the Washington Fruit center open through June. The council has also set aside one-time funding for Lions Pool, which is expected to keep the facility open for the rest of the year when combined with private donations raised through a recent funding campaign.

On Tuesday, Washington Fruit Community Center supporters urged council members to keep the facility open longer.

Taekwondo student Roy Beck-Hernandez led a group of fellow classmates into the City Council chambers, all dressed in their white uniforms. He said the group of roughly 20 students receives their lessons for free.

鈥淭his place has almost become like a home for us,鈥� Beck-Hernandez said of the community center.

Taekwondo student Nathan Hedengren聽鈥� a yellow belt who鈥檚 working to earn his blue stripe聽鈥� said a closure in June could put an end to the opportunity.

鈥淲hen the grown-ups first heard that the WFCC might close, they called around to try to find where else they can go to do taekwondo and still have it be free,鈥� Hedengren said. 鈥淭hey were unsuccessful. If the WFCC closes, we will have nowhere else to go.鈥�

Others pointed to the role the community center plays in offering other youth programs, affordable meals and activities for older adults.

Yakima resident Vicky Rodgers said she鈥檚 been going to the community center鈥檚 senior exercise class for more than a year.

鈥淚t provides needed connection, a focal point, something to look forward to, not to mention the benefits of improved tone, fitness, balance and nutrition,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven if I could afford membership to a club, it couldn't be any better suited to my personal needs than our WFCC. I understand that the city is facing a budget shortfall and is looking at ways to save, but I wanted you to know that these community centers with dining rooms are worth their weight in quality of life for us seniors.鈥�

At Tuesday鈥檚 meeting, Parks and Recreation Manager Ken Wilkinson gave council members an update on the city鈥檚 request for information process for the Washington Fruit and Harman centers. Wilkinson said the city tried to send the request out to as many organizations as possible that might be interested in managing and operating the facilities聽鈥� in total, more than 40.

The request for the Washington Fruit Community Center received three letters of interest from On Fire Ministries, Hope Bridge Adult Care Services and Lisa Graham with the Art Awareness Project. The Harman Center received two letters of interest from People For People and The Terraces.

Now, Wilkinson said the city hopes to get out a request for proposals for the Washington Fruit Community Center out soon, with a request for proposals for the Harman Center to follow.

鈥淛ust because there was only this many RFI letters or letters of interest doesn't mean we won't have more individuals or organizations that would want to submit proposals for the centers,鈥� Wilkinson said. 鈥淭his just gives us an idea of, yes, there is some interest versus zero interest. And so that is critical聽鈥� like, 鈥極K, it's definitely worth our time and our energy to move forward.鈥欌��

He added that the request for proposals will include parameters and expectations about how the facilities are operated.

鈥淭his is a public facility. It was paid for with public funds,鈥� Wilkinson said. 鈥淚t needs to remain public. It needs to be open to the public. It needs to serve the community.鈥�

Council reaction

Council member Patricia Byers said she believes keeping the Washington Fruit Community Center open through December would allow the city more time to work through the request for proposals process and give staff more certainty about a potential transition.

鈥淩ight now, if you're looking at closing in June, most of the staff will probably be looking for jobs elsewhere,鈥� Byers said. 鈥淎nd then if we decide to keep open, what do we do and what do they do? And it kind of creates a real bind there.鈥�

Council member Rick Glenn also expressed his support for keeping the doors open through December.

鈥淚 think there's a lot of wisdom to go ahead and keep it open till the end of the year,鈥� Glenn said, 鈥渟o we have time to analyze all these things and provide a little sense of security.鈥�

In a 6-1 vote, the council agreed to direct $150,000 in one-time money to keep the Washington Fruit center open for an additional six months. The sole nay vote was from Deputy Mayor Reedy Berg, who was hesitant to approve any funding without having clearer figures in front of him first.

Finance Director Craig Warner confirmed that the funding is available.

Latest on budget

In April, the council passed a 3% utility tax rate increase meant to support Fire Station 92, freeing up around $450,000 in one-time funding that had originally been allocated to the station. The city has already designated $140,000 of that for reopening park restrooms. The additional $150,000 commitment made on Tuesday leaves the city with about $160,000 in excess of its 15% reserve recommendation. According to city estimates, about $120,000 would be needed to operate Franklin Pool if the city decides to open the facility this summer.

Last year, the City Council cut summer day camps at Kissel Park and the Washington Fruit Community Center from the 2026 budget. Those camps still aren't happening this summer, but Wilkinson told the 黑料福利社 that the city will have a four-week youth sports camp at Martin Luther King Jr. Park thanks to a $61,000 donation from Forbes Mercy.聽