A group of bowling enthusiasts is working on a plan to reopen the old bowling alley in Kenai.
The city opened the Request for Proposal period last week for the old bowling alley which ceased operations last summer. Charlotte Yamada is heading up the Save Bowling in Kenai group and hopes to finalize her proposal and submit it this week.
Yamada: “Being a bowling family with having no facility this fall and winter, we have realized just how much of our life was spent at the bowling alley. I’ve had lots of people contact me on my Save Bowling in Kenai [Facebook] page that, they’re missing it as much as I am.”
She estimates it will take around $400,000 – 500,000 to renovate the alley inside and out…
Yamada: “Current lanes will have to be shaved down a bit and the overlays will have to be basically retrofitted onto what the base is there already. Then it will be a benefit to bowlers who bowl here and then go to Anchorage to play in tournaments of even, it would bring us more favorable in Anchorage, Fairbanks, outside bowlers eyes to come and have synthetic lanes like they have also, they wouldn’t have to expect to lose 20-30 pins on average.”
Yamada says people have suggested creating a GoFundMe account to help raise money but since the business would be for profit, she prefers to secure the necessary funding on her own.
Once her proposal is submitted this week she says she will put out a call to community bowlers to come support her proposal before the Kenai City Council in coming months. And if hers is accepted she says she will be calling on those same members to potentially volunteer in helping with renovations.