Long known for their generosity to the community, Chuck and Joanne Haselwood, owners of Haselwood Auto Group in Bremerton, recently announced they will provide all the necessary financial support to build a 42,000-square-foot, NHL-regulation ice arena in Central Kitsap. Cost of the facility is projected at $4 million.

This isn’t the first time the Haselwoods have opened their checkbook for Kitsap County. They were major contributors to the rebuilding of the Olympic College Library, which has been named in their honor, and the Admiral Theatre, as well as supporting numerous other projects and organizations throughout the county.

“We just feel we have a responsibility to give something back to the community that has been so good to us all these years,” said Chuck Haselwood.

Haselwood’s wealth is self-made. He hitchiked to Bremerton and got a job in a service station. He later started selling used cars there. Today, the Haselwoods are one of the largest auto dealers in the state, owning not only Haselwood Buick, Pontiac GMC, but Today Chevrolet, Cadillac Oldsmobile, Heartland Toyota, West Hills Honda, Premier Chrysler-Jeep, Acura at Southcenter and Lexus of Bellevue.

The Silverdale Ice Arena, as the project has been named, is proposed to be built on a site at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, although a final determination for a site hasn’t been made.

Silverdale businessman Greg Meakin has been the driving force behind the project, and although specific terms were not disclosed, Meakin said the construction budget is just under $4 million.

“Kitsap County residents can rest assured that indeed this ice arena is going to open,” Meakin said.

When completed, the facility will house an 85-by-200-foot ice rink with spectator seating, a pro shop, food court, espresso stand, child-care facilities and game, fitness, party and conference rooms. It will be available for public skating, figure skating and hockey.

Meakin and Kitsap County Parks and Recreation Department director Cris Gears want to build the arena at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, with Gears noting that the county is in desperate need of recreational facilities.

“The county does not have the resources to construct these facilities, or to operate and maintain them,” he stated. “However, we do have public property that we will bring to the table. This is a straight business arrangement. The county is not contributing tax dollars. It is not contributing public land, these are not gifts.”

One possible solution is a land-lease arrangement, similar to one between the City of Bremerton and the Olympic Soccer and Sports Center at Pendergast Regional Park. The soccer center and city agreed to 40 years of leases, beginning with a 10-year lease with an option for three additional 10-year leases. There is no fee for the city to use the facility, but as compensation, the city gets up to 182 hours annual use for city-sponsored events. Gears added that if the arena project doesn’t work out at the fairgrounds, the county will work hard to find another site.

Gears also allowed that there still are several issues that need to be addressed, such as neighborhood concerns which were raised when the project was announced and permitting..

Meakin said if the fairgrounds site is selected, the targeted opening date would be in the fall 2002, but no later than Christmas.

“I have loved ice skating since I was a little girl,” said a smiling Joanne Haselwood. “We’re just thrilled to be a part of this.”.