The Fort Worden Collaborative is the result of a five-year planning effort, much of it directed and supported by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. With extensive public outreach and feedback, the guidance of two special advisory boards (in addition to the long-standing Fort Worden Advisory Committee), and two nationally prominent consulting teams, we have laid the groundwork to build a vital partnership economy that will preserve and enhance the extraordinary resource of Fort Worden State Park for generations to come. An archive of planning documents guiding this endeavor can be accessed on the State Park website (Part 1) (Part 2).
The Collaborative began as a project of Centrum, Fort Worden’s founding partner and provider of multidisciplinary arts and education programs at the Park since 1973. Centrum is Fort Worden’s biggest customer, currently generating annual rent, food, and accommodations revenues for Washington State Parks in excess of $600,000. Centrum has a rich history of successful partnership with Washington State Parks and has been involved in the current planning process from its inception.
After a statewide task force, headed by Special Assistant Attorney General Gerry Johnson of K+L Gates, recommended that the State seek a nonprofit organization to develop a new management model for Fort Worden, Washington State Parks published a nationwide Request for Letters of Interest. (Download Request for Letters of Interest ) Centrum’s was the sole application. (Download Letter of Interest) In March, 2009, the Director of Washington State Parks, formally designated Centrum as the nonprofit with which the State will negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding, incorporating a mutually agreed upon set of milestones that must be achieved by both Centrum (doing business as the Fort Worden Collaborative) and Washington State Parks.( Download Approval to Proceed).
In March of 2010, Centrum and Washington State Parks signed the Memorandum of Understanding, and Centrum authorized the Fort Worden Collaborative to begin implementation of the milestones therein.
If and when these milestones are achieved to the satisfaction of both parties, long-term lease negotiations will begin.
Collaborative Strategic Plan
The Collaborative is in the process of drafting its strategic plan. The current draft is available for review and comment HERE.
Partner Classification Plan
The Collaborative has been directed by Washington State Parks to: "develop a classification system and selection and retention criteria to guide recruitment and development of short- and long-term contractual and other relationships with nonprofit and business partners" at the Park. Click HERE to review the current draft of this document.
