I would like to take this opportunity to correct some misconceptions that have been expressed in letters printed in this newspaper regarding the proposed rebuilding of the City Dock.

I am dismayed by the very negative comments that have ranged from “we don’t need anymore tourists” to “it appears we will now be squandering the ill-gotten gains ($2 million) on so-called improvements to Waterfront Park Marina.”

If the initiators of these letters had read the submission that was made to the council on Nov. 20 and was available on the COBI website, they would have noted that the proposal was for a replacement of the present inadequate, unsafe, non-ADA compliant and environmentally unfriendly City Dock.

The development is termed the Waterfront Recreation Center and the main beneficiaries will be the youths and adults of Bainbridge Island who participate in the sailing programs (300-350 per year), kayak classes and tours (275-350 per year), senior program outings to Blake Island (75-100 per year), the CAST event for physically handicapped kids, and last but not least the hundreds of rowers who presently have to wade in the water to launch their shells.

The visitors’ floats will be increased by only a half-dozen berths to enable yacht clubs to visit Bainbridge Island in groups of 12 to 16 boats, for which there are no facilities on the island, as well as accommodating larger vessels such as the “Adventuress,” Argosy tour boats and heritage vessels.

All these will be transient vessels so the Center will not be competing with marinas for monthly rentals, but it is expected that the visitors will spend money in the shops and restaurants that are so conveniently placed next to the City Dock.

It is sincerely hoped by the supporters of this Waterfront Recreation Center that the council members on the WSF ad hoc committee will be able to live up to their recommendation that the $2 million be for maritime public use in the near future.

Mark Leese

Bainbridge Island