The founder of a group of Kenai Peninsula bowling enthusiasts presented their preliminary plans to restore and reopen the Kenai Bowling Alley on Wednesday night.
Charlotte Yamada gave a presentation to the city council about moving forward,with about 15 fellow bowlers there to support her, including fellow bowling group founder Nicole Cunningham.
Yamada: “We are going to have to secure funding, we are going to have to move forward as if the city of Kenai is going to get behind us on this. We would like to, point blank, keep the bowling alley a bowling alley. We don’t want to see if flattened or steamrolled, we want it to stay a family fun center and have something for everyone to come and do.
Cunningham: “We want it to benefit the community, we we talking this evening about scholarships that are available for kids and the ability to give back to the community.”
The group has put together a preliminary cost estimate of around $450,000 to begin leasing the building and property from the city, along with significant renovations to the bowling alley.
Yamada: “So it’s going cost a pretty penny and it’s going to take a lot of work but you know, we like the challenge.”
The group plans to apply when the city’s request for proposal process opens on the building. The current bowling alley was leasing from the city also but the lease expired and the facility was closed last summer.