KENNEWICK, Wash. – County commissioners broke down a wall on Tuesday at a groundbreaking to kick off construction for a new recovery center in Kennewick.
The groundbreaking was a start to the 13-month construction, set to end next December, on 25 percent of the old Kennewick General Hospital, and those involved said it has been a long time coming.
“This project’s been in the works for a little over four years, but our community has been talking about the need for more behavioral health services for the better part of two decades,” said Matt Rasmussen, Benton County Commissioner’s Office Deputy County Administrator.
Rasmussen said when the project is completed, it will serve as a resource for people with substance related crises and more.
“It provides a new option for our local law enforcement and emergency medical responders to help people in crisis,” he said. “Right now, their only options are to take them to the emergency room or the county jail, which isn’t a good outcome.”
The new facility will include four primary units once completed, said Brandon Potts, Bouten Construction Vice President.
Potts said the primary units include an observation unit, an evaluation and treatment unit, a crisis stabilization unit and a residential patient area.
“These four units will provide space for up to 57 clients at any given time.Think about that,” he said. “That’s 57 clients who may not have had a place to go, 57 humans who are offered hope where maybe only fear existed.”
Michele Gerber, Benton Franklin Recovery President, said the facility is the only grassroots recovery center in the Pacific Northwest, and is a direct result of citizens working with local and state governments.
“I’ve lived a long time, and I’ve seen some astonishing things. Some astonishingly good, and some astonishingly bad,” Gerber said. “But I never thought I would see this.”
More information about today’s groundbreaking and the future of the project can be found on the Kennewick Police Department’s Facebook page.
