I have a crazy idea which some people may not like but I want to throw it at the wall and see if it sticks.

Actually, it’s more of a vision for what Maple Valley could be like in five years if a handful of amazing things happened. Some people will likely think I’m crazy.

This whole concept came into my brain after I started getting calls, emails and messages on Facebook about the impending end of the Children and Family Programs at the Greater Maple Valley Community Center.

While a number of passionate people are rallying to save those programs I wondered aloud in the office, “What would happen if someone or something else stepped in to offer these programs? What would that look like? And is it really the city of Maple Valley’s responsibility to offer or even financially support these programs at the Community Center?”

What sprang to mind immediately was the push to bring a YMCA to Maple Valley. It’s happened twice — at least that I am aware of — in the past decade. In both instances, the effort fizzled out.

But, what if someone resurrected that effort? There is a foundation laid, at least the start of a relationship, between the city and the YMCA as former staff writer TJ Martinell laid out in an article in June 2011. Martinell quoted the minutes of the April 25, 2011 Maple Valley City Council meeting that, “The YMCA wants to explore the area in South King County based upon their thoughts that it is an underserved community.”

Census data from 2010 offered in that article indicates that 32 percent of the population is under 18 and that from 2000 to 2010 the city’s population grew by nearly 60 percent. In 2011, the Maple Valley City Council was also scheduled to tour two YMCA locations in Newcastle and Burien.

A feasibility study was conducted by the YMCA in 2005 but discussions ended shortly after that. It is unclear to me at this point why nothing happened since the meetings and tour of mid-2011. It’s unfortunate.

Since 2008, according to a letter sent out by Mark Pursley, executive director of the Community Center, the private nonprofit has operated at a deficit due to reduction of cash flow from a number of sources.

“As a result, we are faced with the same challenges that every family faces at home – what do we do when our expenses exceed our income? The options are to increase our revenue or decrease our expenses,” Pursley wrote. “We’ve worked hard to increase our revenue in several ways this year … Ultimately, these revenue enhancements are not enough to offset our loss in foundation, county and state funding. We must continue to reduce costs. In a service oriented non-profit (sic) such as the Community Center, this translates into cutting staff and eliminating programs.”

I don’t want to see the community center go away. I don’t think anyone does, however, it seems to me that the campaign to bring the YMCA here should be resumed. A partnership between the Y and the community center was discussed. I would consider pursuing that again.

And given that the city has a piece of land, 50 acres on Maple Valley Highway known as the Legacy Site across from Rock Creek Elementary, it seems like locating the Y there would be a win-win. I know there are dreams of putting Maple Valley City Hall on that piece of property and I don’t think putting a YMCA there would preclude that from happening.

Think about the possibility of a lovely YMCA smack in the middle of the city offering programs for all the youngsters who live in this city. Maybe there is a pool involved and Tahoma won’t have to share Covington Aquatic Center with Kentlake or the water polo team at Kentwood would not have to play at 8 p.m. during the week.

We know there is a need for ballfields but the YMCA could fill a gap fields would not, however, since I brought that up, here’s my vision.

In five years — and perhaps this is a bit lofty, but, it’s a vision so I’m going to dream big — what if Maple Valley has a YMCA, the Summit Ballfields and Park, along with a brand new Tahoma High school.

Add to that the plans for Ravensdale Park just outside the city limits and Maple Valley could be transformed in many ways while meeting the needs of many more residents all the while preserving a cherished asset in the community center.

This community, which goes beyond the 5.8 square miles of the city of Maple Valley, could create a heart, a center, a group of gathering places which are centrally located that would tie us all together and enhance our identity as well as our service-oriented spirit.

This will take work. Tahoma’s school construction bond measure will need to pass. Meetings will need to happen between the city and the YMCA. Committees will likely need to be formed. Grants will need to be pursued. A bond may need to be put to voters. Egos will need to be set aside. And concerns about how this may affect one’s political legacy should be forgotten.

It could happen. I believe the people who live in this area have the desire to see these things happen based on conversations with friends and neighbors, Facebook posts, testimony at public meetings not just this year or last year but going back to 2006, comments on the Reporter’s website and letters to the editor. And if my crazy, lofty vision for the city does happen, efforts in the economic development department could really begin to happen. I think this difficult situation for the Community Center could be an opportunity to start something amazing.

The question is are all the stakeholders involved ready to do what it takes? That remains to be seen.

That’s just me and my crazy idea.