Woman seeking residents' support for sports complex

Commissioner Collins is offering advice on plans

Friday, Nov. 27, 2009

Can a community effort conquer a daunting hurdle set by the recession?

That's the question Charles County resident Dottery Washington is hoping will be answered in the affirmative when she's holding a check for $5.6 million to start construction on a sportplex and learning center next year.

Having fielded the "there's nothing to do here, mom," complaints from her two college-age sons one too many times, Washington is leading the charge to build Charles County residents a facility that appeals to the young and old, brains and brawn.

"My vision is something for everyone," Washington said. "This is not targeting one area. [I] don't want to leave anyone out."

Though Washington has been pounding the pavement to get the project off the ground since the summer, in the past month or so she said things have really taken off.

A Web site dedicated to raising funds and awareness about the sportplex is up and running at http://ccsportandlearningcenter.bbnow.org, local radio stations have lent a hand in advertising and, thanks to several ads placed in the Maryland Independent, positive feedback has been flooding her e-mail inbox, Washington said.

The first advertisement she placed in the paper in late October actually drew so many questions to the county government that County Administrator Rebecca Bridgett had to issue a written statement explaining the call for donations had nothing to do with county plans.

"I think what happened is so many people flooded [the county's e-mail]," Washington said after the administrator's letter ran in the Independent. "My main point is that I didn't want the county to be included [in this project] until the community was behind it. Now you can see the community is engaged.

"I don't want the county to give me anything. If the community gets involved, that speaks volumes."

Washington said her sportplex campaign needs just more than $5.5 million to get shovels turning dirt by April 2011. The total cost for opening the sportplex is $28 million, a figure she was able to estimate based on the conceptual work of Fairfax, Va.-based engineering and design services group Land Engineering.

"We discussed ideas and looked up what she wanted and how it would get developed," said Lloyd Ntuk, owner of Land Engineering. "We decided to give [Washington] some assistance with schematics and conceptual plans so she would have an idea of what the facility might look like and overall costs."

Ntuk said as the process continues, the conceptual drawings will get finalized and when construction begins his firm will work "hand in hand" with the builders to ensure Washington's vision is met.

Some of the amenities Washington has planned for the sportplex are a fitness center, two full-sized basketball courts, a pool, learning center, multiple courts and tracks and sports fields, a conference room and day care.

"A YMCA will only take care of our youth," Washington said. "Grownups are the ones who spend money."

Besides Ntuk and the residents who have already signed on with their support, Washington has also gotten the advice and expertise of Charles County Commissioner Reuben B. Collins II (D).

Collins said initially Washington had come to him for advice from the standpoint of an elected official.

He took on her project as a private attorney and he has already strongly suggested she keep the project independent of the county until the necessary permitting process is required, at which point he would need to excuse himself to avoid any conflict of interest.

"I think she has a good idea and is very committed," Collins said. "But she's going to have to inevitably come up with funding from public sources, and it could be difficult given the economy we're in."

Aware of the financial struggle many residents have found themselves in, Washington remains hopeful.

"I know people are losing their homes, but if I can engage the community and get the majority on board, it's a win-win situation," Washington said.

msomers@somdnews.com