With the new revitalization of Harlem people are worried that it’s music, art and dance will get rearranged or lost in the shuffle. A concerned Harlem minister said, “Development without culture fails.” With that premise let’s look at Bremerton and Silverdale.

Just beyond wiggly grasping fingertips is a line of hopes and dreams for Bremerton. Even more than hopes and dreams is the taste of reality as developers put out hard cold cash to buy Bremerton. Add these new investors to the progress already underway and the thirty three million dollar multi-government building, and a new force is here to be reckoned with.

Bremerton has been a scapegoat. “Why help a town that doesn’t help itself’’ some say. But it has helped itself in one way — in a way that will cultivate deep roots. Development and progress may try to push the arts out of the ballpark, but history will award poor ole Bremerton, because stubborn legs stood fast.

The Admiral Theater Performing Arts Theater, the Kitsap County Historical Museum, the Naval Museum, The Boardwalk adorned with a large cast bronze sculpture, improved and doubling in size waterfront Evergreen Park, the Bremerton Symphony, a large fountain on 4th Street, Evergreen Children’s Theater and historic puppet collection, an opera company, third year monthly poetry, half dozen art galleries, Peninsula Dance Company, Bremerton Community Theater, nonprofit mural organization, and Downtown Bremerton is one of the few officially city deemed “arts districts” in the state of Washington — a good foundation for Bremerton to rebuild on!

Most are aware of the positive economic effect of public art by looking at cities such as Portland, Carmel,, Santa Fe and even Port Townsend. There has been a lot of debate about Kitsap County appropriating one percent for the arts.

‘“Not with my tax dollars you don’t”, some grumble, or “We can raise our own funding if we want public art”. Those are very interesting comments.

Silverdale has spent billions on a sprawling maze of development. Other than foliage correct mandated stream trails, patchy green belts, Whaling Days and rubber duck races where is the culture?

Maybe I’m missing something, but driving through Silverdale where are the magnificent sculptures, fountains, museums, performance arenas, fine art galleries, foundries and creative campuses? I found an empty slab where a sculpture was suppose to go — but hasn’t happened. Eons ago it’s said an ice arena plan was appropriated to Silverdale, but that was gotten out of by directing funds to the effective but less than attractive metal Pavilion.

What is that saying “Art lasts forever”? Pretty soon buildings get old and outdated. There may come a day that need and greed can’t keep up a pretty face. Look what happened to Wheaton Way.

Aside from the hows and whys, lawsuits and squabbles, from general observations it seems the commercial strip got old. It was new and modem once just like Silverdale.

K-Mart was a one-stop-shop. Black Angus gave us a choice for fine dining. Eagle offered every screw and gadget the world could offer, and the Clover Leaf made tavern going respectable. It would have been nice if that Wheaton Way early growth included a little culture — maybe a creative gazebo to project the sounds of a high school trio, or a fountain so pennies could be wishes, or sculpture to pay homage to salmon, or entrance exhibiting enclosures, or green patches for color and seating amidst the of acres of parking. But that didn’t happen. The basic commercial buildings became old, and tenants moved on to more equipped and modern spaces just as will happen to Silverdale.

Will public art and culture really make a difference? Who can say for sure, but if I were Silverdale l wouldn’t take any chances. It’s not too late.

Development without culture will fail.

P.S. As I concluded writing this it was announced that the county passed the one percent for the arts. Thank you Kitsap County..