Kenmore Mayor David Baker and Bastyr University President Daniel K. Church led a session regarding Bastyr and Kenmore relations at the International Town and Gown Association’s 5th Annual Conference held at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, June 3.
The title of the presentation was “Charting a New Path of Environmental and Community Partnership: Bastyr University and the City of Kenmore, Washington.” Being at the Ames campus was a homecoming for Mayor Baker, who received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
More than 150 people attended the conference, including presenters and participants from cities and universities/colleges, large and small, from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Ky., to University of California, Santa Cruz. Representatives from the National League of Cities also attended the event.
Several key events led to the development of a stronger relationship between Kenmore and Bastyr. Over the past few years, the Kenmore City Council moved forward with plans such as the downtown redevelopment project and economic development strategy. During the same time, Bastyr launched a marketing campaign and approved its strategic plan. The city and Bastyr have built sustainable capital projects: Kenmore City Hall and Bastyr Student Village — on track for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold and Platinum ratings, respectively.
While working together, the city and Bastyr overcame obstacles to create a partnership that resulted in the City Council’s unanimous approval of the University’s Master Plan in 2009. The Master Plan is a 10-year guide for campus development. It addresses traffic management, environmental protection, facilities and land use.
The partnership between Bastyr and the city was enhanced by the university’s offer to allow public use and community scheduling of the private athletic fields on campus. The city and Bastyr agreed on an 11-year lease for the recreational fields (two ball fields and one soccer field), with the fields available for scheduled use by sports organizations. Public access is also available to the garden, trails and other amenities.
The university moved to its current 51-acre site adjacent to St. Edward State Park in Kenmore in 1995. Bastyr University is Kenmore’s largest employer.
The International Town and Gown Association is a non-government organization that brings together leaders from college and university campuses and communities. The association acts as a communication, education, consulting and training resource for decision makers of college communities in areas of shared resources, program and project opportunities and addressing existing and potential conflicts.
