A TIME LINE OF EVENTS   1978 TO 1987

FALL 1978 TO OCTOBER 1980

Sharing the vision for bringing the age groups together to one site where they would interact in common interest areas.  The complex would provide facilities for well founded non profit organizations which would build and maintain their own facilities in many instances.  Long term leases would be signed for one dollar per year for qualified 501 c-3 groups.  Systems such as roads, power, telephone and drainage would be developed by the South Whidbey Park and Recreation District which would also hire a director to manage and coordinate the community center complex.  The Parks and Recreation District would also participate in other ways as necessary and all facilities would be available to the general public.  Using this approach non profit organizations would continue to benefit from their network of volunteers and with private donations and as a result a great deal would be provided with tax money supporting, not carrying, beneficial programs for adults to do as much as possible without tax money was the concept that the majority of those who gave to the project expressed. With the organizations being at one site they would each have better visibility.  People would go to one site and have an opportunity to do many things at that site.  Facilities and programs would complement each other and people with different interests would meet and interact.  A very practical and efficient, in fact synergistic concept!!

OCTOBER 1980

Matt Nichols recommended that we organize and purchase a site for the community center.  He said that we should go for it because the vision was right and his father had taught him the importance of putting yourself at risk your goals and objectives justify it.

NOVEMBER 1980 

Ad hoc meetings were organized by Tim Scriven with the goal of selecting and then purchasing 30 to 40 acres for the community center site.

JANUARY 1981 

Articles of Incorporation were filed for a non profit organization.  The organization became known as South Whidbey Recreation.

Tim Scriven traveled to Bellevue and sought the advice of Sigfried Semaru, the director of recreation for the city of Bellevue and Dave Ravet, the athletic director of parks and recreation for Bellevue.  The advice which Sigfried offered was to located next to a school site, find property in the center of the service area so that the facilities would be equally accessible, and to; "ask the land what it wants to be?"  Sigfried Semaru's advice was utilized by Tim Scriven as 6 suitable sites were found.

FEBRUARY 1981 

The preferred site belonged to bud and Margaret Waterman and Tim called bud and made an appointment with him to discuss the purchase of the 43 acre tract which he owned next to where the South Whidbey High School was to be built.  Bud agreed to sign an option agreement to sell the property for $80,000 cash with two months to raise the money.  Tim signed the agreement with bud Waterman and reported back to the ad hoc committee.  Tim and the committee members set out to raise the money.

Mike Shelton went to the 43 acre site and dug several soil log holes to provide some insight into the drainage characteristics of the land.

APRIL 1981

Within 45 days 36 couples and individuals had given $250 each toward the purchase of the community center site.  Wally and Betty Lehman gave $2,000 and 15 others donated various amounts.

Scotty Nickelson visited the site and reported that there was enough value in the Timber to more then pay the option amount without taking all of the trees.

Tim Scriven reported Scotty's finding to Waterman mill and they invited Orv Tveit, a forester from Weyerhauser company, to come over and cruise the property.  It was determined that clear-gutting 70% of the Timber would net enough to pay the option amount. The option agreement was set aside, Waterman mill clear-cut 70% of the Timber and then donated it to the newly formed non profit organization named South Whidbey Recreation.  The donation took place in September 1981. Special thanks to pacific northwest escrow and island title

JUNE 1981 TO FEBRUARY 1982

Western Washington university did a recreation preferences survey at the request of Tim Scriven and on behalf of South Whidbey recreation.  W.W.U. Published a book which has served as a valuable tool in the planning of the SW. Community Center.

Jack Siebert directed a topographic survey at 2 foot contour intervals at the request of Tim Scriven who organized a volunteer work force for jack.  Jack Siebert donated his Time to do the topo survey valued at $5,000.

MARCH 1982 

Initial bulldozing and site clearing.

Tony Shults donates the logo for the South Whidbey Community Center.

At the request of Tim Scriven attorney Ross Jacobson donated his time and convinced Island County to eliminate a fee of $10,000 for back forestation taxes.  Special thanks to the prosecuting attorney Dave Theile.

American Legion dance, Anna Unum organizer

APRIL 1982 

Informational dinner meeting at Useless Bay Golf and Country Club.  Special thanks to John Watson.  Organizer, Tim Scriven.

MAY 1982 

Bob Moch donates a complete soils analysis of the 43 acre community center site.

Application for conditional use permit.  Tim Scriven made the presentation to Island County.

JULY 1982 

Arthur and Dora Gabelein donate a 20 foot easement laying adjacent to the 40 foot paved easement which the school dist. donated. The request was made by Tim Scriven.  Special thanks to Hanford Thayer and Ross Jacobson.

AUGUST 1982 

Orange frosties booth at the Island County Fair. Organizers Tim and Georgia Scriven.

Groundbreaking for the athletic fields, site cleanup and burning.

The South Whidbey school district donates a 40 foot paved easement to the South boundary of the community center site.  Special thanks to Hanford Thayer.and attorney Ross Jacobson.

SEPTEMBER 1982 

Construction of the jogging trail.  Doug alderdice, trail roughed out by Dave anderson, completion of trail bob moch.

NOVEMBER 1982 

Publication of the informational booklet titled your community center .  Sue Ellen and Tim Scriven authors.

Graphics by Tony Shults of the quorum.

THROUGHOUT 1983

Site planning and permits from Island County were pursued.  Joss Thomas of the quarum contributed a great deal to this with engineer Hanford Thayer and consultant Tom Roehl.

SUMMER 1983 

A 4 ft. X 8 ft. Sign was erected at Maxwelton road pointing the way to the South Whidbey Community Center site. 

A 16 ft. X 8 ft. Valued at approximately $3,000 was carved by Judy McVay and erected at the community center site.  Project coordinator for the sign was Tim Scriven.

Tim Scriven fights to stay with the South Whidbey community center project.

Orange frosties booth at the Island County Fair. Project coordinators Tim and Georgia Scriven.

FALL 1983 

Folks march organized by June Bell and Ruth Rhodes.

Langley fun run sponsored by the Langley Chamber of Commerce and the South Whidbey Brokers Association.  Project coordinator Ron Lind.

NOVEMBER 1983 

Formation of the South Whidbey Park and Recreation District.  With commissioners Dave Anderson, Steve Shapiro, Judy Yeakel, Jim Porter and Al Good.

JANUARY 1984 

South Whidbey Recreation dissolves and its assets are given to the newly formed South Whidbey Park and Recreation District. These assets include clear title to the 43 acre South Whidbey Community Center site, half interest in a real estate contract which South Whidbey Recreation acquired from Help, Inc., and cash which had been received through donations and various fund raising projects.

JUNE 1984 

The Navy Sea Bees from the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station remove stumps and pile them with other debris for burning on 25 acres of the South Whidbey Community Center site.  The initial request to the Navy was made by Tim Scriven.

AUGUST 1984 

Orange frosties booth at the Island County fair.  Project coordinator Anna Unum.

MARCH 1985 

Banner days heavy equipment work party with various non profit organizations displaying their banners on equipment which they sponsored.  Burning and clearing of stumps and slash.  Project coordinator Tim Scriven.

MARCH 1985 

Raffle fund raiser- logging truck load of firewood. Logs donated by Margaret Waterman, logging truck donated by Bradley Construction.  Raffle ticket sales coordinator, Jeannie Babik.

Well drilled by Joe Lehman at the request of Tim Scriven. Joe donated his time and equipment, sold the casing, drive shoe and screens at his cost and donated $500 also fund raising for the purchase of the materials sold at cost.

APRIL 1985 

First publication of community news.

AUGUST 1985 

Herb Hunt donates the conceptual drawing of the South Whidbey Community Center at the request of Tim Scriven.  Special thanks to John Thomas and Tony Shults of the quarum who contributed a great deal of information toward developing the conceptual drawing.

First application to the Seattle Mariners for the $40,000 Boeing-Mariners Jr. Athletic Field grant.  Project coordinators Tim Scriven and Craig Dill.  Approximately 500 South Whidbey residents attended as Betty and Wally Lehman and Margaret Waterman were honored at the opening cerimonies of the game.  Michael Healvy through out the first pitch and Heather Bradley sang the National Anthem.

JANUARY 1986 

Formation of the South Whidbey Progressive Club, a non profit organization established to serve as a booster club for improvements to the South Whidbey Community Center.  Tim Scriven was the first to recognize the need for the type of vehicle which the South Whidbey Progressive Club provided and he organized its formation.

MARCH 1986 

Hanford Thayer donates his engineering services  and delivers a grading plan for the excavation of the lower athletic field. Later Hanford donated grading plans for the upper athletic field and one other field.  All along Hanford Thayer played a critical role in providing a wide variety of engineering services.

Second work party featuring a large number of bulldozers, dump trucks, backhoes, etc. Used to excavate and move approximately 10,000 yds of soil on the lower athletic field.  Ladonna Thorsen flew her airplane over the property and-Harvey Friesen, Jr. Took pictures of the project.  Project coordinator, Tim Scriven.

MAY 1986 

Excavation of 8,000 yds of soil on the upper athletic field.  Project manager, Randy Bradley.

JUNE 1986 

South Whidbey Community Center garage sale/auction. Organizers Patty McGlenn and Georgia Scriven.

SUMMER 1986 TO 1987 

Construction of the cedar log picnic shelter building.  Project coordinator, Tim Scriven.  Project managers, Dave Johnson and Rick Collins.

Construction of the wellhouse.  Project coordinator, Tim Scriven.  Special thanks to SW. Lions Club.

The SW Kiwanis Club donated $660 toward the purchase of shakes for the log picnic shelter and the wellhouse at the request of Tim Scriven on behalf of the SW Progressive Club.

At all of the major work parties food was donated by various restaurants and grocery stores in the South Whidbey community.  Other businesses donated needed items and cash for the purchase of items. In most cases Tim and Georgia Scriven participated in rounding up the food and preparing it.  Most of the money raised for the community center projects was through the efforts of Tim Scriven on behalf of the South Whidbey Progressive Club.

150 children and adults joined together in removing by hand, rocks and debris from the upper and lower athletic fields and the picnic area.  Jim Hansen served as project manager at the request of Tim Scriven on behalf of the South Whidbey Progressive Club.

AUGUST 1986 

Robin flem sent out 150 letters to businessess and individuals in the community soliciting funds on behalf of the  South Whidbey Progressive Club and approximately $500 in contributions was received as a result.  Project coordinator Tim Scriven.

FALL 1986 

A power pole was purchased by jim Scriven and installed by Jim and Buck Walters at the west end of the Gabelein easement.  The request for this was made by Tim Scriven on behalf of the South Whidbey Progressive Club.

The pool and recreation committee organizes to plan the swimming pool and recreation building.

FALL 1988 

Arthur and Dora Gabelein donate $50 to purchase a gate which is placed at the entrance of the community center property to keep people from dumping garbage on the site and from driving cars on the athletic fields.  The gate was erected by Tim Scriven and Chuck Hosmer. Greg's rent a tool donated the use of a post hole driller and a lock for the gate.

SPRING 1987 

Site preparation of the playground area.  Stump and slash removal by Jim Scriven at the request of Tim Scriven on behalf of the South Whidbey Progressive Club.

MAY 1987 

South Whidbey Progressive Club receives $1,200 from the Seattle Mariners at the request of Tim Scriven.

2nd South Whidbey Progressive Club garage sale to benefit the South Whidbey Community Center.  Project coordinators patty McGlenn and Georgia Scriven.

SUMMER 1987 

2nd grant application to the Seattle Mariners.  project coordinators Vickie Scott and Sandy Gage.

South Whidbey Progressive Club raffle.  Prizes: a fireplace insert, Rich's Woodstoves & Spas, logging truck load of firewood, Bradley Construction, $60 certificate for dinner, fountain court of main rhododendron, Giberson's, sweatshirt & hat set, Georgia and Tim Scriven, $25 gift certificate, Hanson's Building Supply.

Soroptomists wine tasting party.  Proceeds donated to the South Whidbey Progressive Club at the request of Virginia Bloom.

Herb Hunt donates the plans for the community center restroom building.  The request was made by Hanford Thayer who with tom roehl convinced the county to provide a building permit.

Bob Moch donates the plans for the design of the drain field for the restroom building.

Jim Scriven donates the use of his bulldozer and excavates the area for the restroom building.

Randy and Myrna Bradley donate the pump for the community center well.

Jim and Terry Lehman donate their time and materials to install the pump for the well.

The lower athletic field is named Lehman field in honor of Wally and Betty Lehman-who donated countless hours to many community projects over the years.

Orange frosties booth at Choochokum in Langley.  A joint effort of P.A.R.C. and the SW Progressive Club.  Project coordinator Georgia Scriven.

Whidbey concrete construction builds the forms for the restroom building slab and the slab is poured. Ken Bloom project coordinator.

Jim Odle and Steve White construct the rock drinking

Fountain from plans donated by Hanford Thayer.  Jim and steve did the work

At the request of Tim Scriven on behalf of the South Whidbey Progressive Club.

Scott Lincoln and Steve Carter rough in the plumbing

For the restroom building at the request of Tim Scriven.  Project coordinator Hanford Thayer.

NOVEMBER 1987 

The South Whidbey park and recreation district receives voter approval of a levy providing $100,000 per year for 5 years.  Special thanks to Terry Snyder, Nancy Tomaso and Dave Anderson.