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Tuesday, Jul. 07, 2009

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Carousel barn on Kennewick agenda

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

Kennewick's antique carousel and its 44 horses could have a temporary barn overhead if the city council agrees to build a storage facility next to the Dan Frost Municipal Services Complex on Chemical Drive.

A rough design and preliminary cost estimate for a temporary carousel barn will be presented to the council at 6:30 p.m. today at city hall.

Members of the Three Rivers Carousel Foundation told the council last month that they needed a large test facility at least 25 feet high with an open span of at least 60 feet to assemble all the carousel parts. It would take about a year to put the machine together and fine-tune it.

The city has invested about $860,000 so far in the project since acquiring the 1910 Charles Carmel carousel in 2003.

The foundation plans to have a permanent carousel facility built and ready for occupancy in about 18 months. That would free up the temporary carousel barn for indoor parking for the city's heavy trucks and service equipment.

City Manager Bob Hammond said the cost of the new barn would have to come out of the city's existing budget by cutting expenses in other areas.

Hammond said in a memo to the council that it is "too early to specifically decide on the site for the carousel," but recommends the council approve funding for the temporary carousel barn.

Several council members and representatives of the carousel foundation have said they think Vista Entertainment District near the Three Rivers Convention Center would be a good permanent home for the carousel, but much of the public comment surrounding the issue indicates the carousel should be in Columbia Park.



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