Burien is planning a new community center that will be home to a new senior center and feature other programs.

The 55,000 square foot facility, which will be located at Southwest 146th Street and Fourth Avenue South where the existing community center now stands, is only in the preliminary planning stage.

But, if completed, it will house a new pool, gym, jogging track and expanded space for a variety of programs.

"A city of our size should have a facility like this," City Manager Mike Martin told Burien City Council members on Sept. 17. "It would provide a good place for out youth to go."

The community center most likely will be funded by a bond measure that would go on the ballot in 2008. The city is also looking into other avenues of funding for the project.

"Nothing is set in stone yet but we definitely want to advance this project," Martin said.

In 2006, Burien residents were surveyed to determine what programs and services they thought needed the most improvement.

"The survey is what has guided us the most," Burien community planner Scott Thomas told the lawmakers.

A new survey will attempt to find out how interested people are in financially supporting the construction of the facility.

"The needs of the public that weren't being met are the same things that are included in the new community center," Thomas said.

The senior center will be in the community center because the city will be able to utilize the same staff for all patrons.

He added that the city can provide better services to the public if senior programs are offered alongside other programs.

Some residents have voiced opinions about the senior center being a separate entity, but putting it in the same building with other community programs could cut the city's operation costs in half, Thomas noted.

"We've got a lot of good feedback from the community," Councilwoman Sue Blazak said.

Current plans call for equipping the pool with slides and a moving river that will circle the pool.