Officials help break ground for new Child Development Center

By Spc. Aaron Carpenter, I Corps Public Affairs

There’s a new Child Development Center in the works as a ground breaking ceremony took place next to the Cascade Community Club July 16.

This is the third of nine scheduled CDCs to be built over the next three years in support of the Army Family Covenant signed last fall to document the Fort Lewis commitment to Soldiers and their families.

Colonel Cynthia A. Murphy, garrison commander, and Ray Miller, Clover Park school district administrator of business services, joined forces with some children of the Broadmoor CDC to officially get the project underway that is scheduled to be completed in June of next year.

“This new facility will make a great installation even better,” Murphy said, “we’re absolutely committed to doing as much as we can.”

The concept of a walkable community is in operation as the garrison staff fortifies a community with the means to accommodate the growing Fort Lewis population.

“We’re going to keep working to make things better and better for our families.”

The garrison staff has been coordinating with the Clover Park School District to meet these demands.

“There’s a collaboration, both with the post in these types of operations and with the school,” Miller said.

This partnership includes the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation for complete commitment of the Army Family Covenant.

These demands are at the forefront because Soldiers need to know their family is safe.

“A Soldier who knows their family is in good hands can focus on the mission,” Murphy said.

Family support isn’t just a quality of life issue, it’s also readiness issue, she said. This is the driving force behind the Army Family Covenant.

Miller also acknowledged the valuable assurance deployed Soldiers have in always knowing their children have somewhere safe to learn and play.

He said such places are necessary for Soldiers’ families considering the commitment required during times of deployment. Miller said that it was wonderful working with Team Lewis because of its recognition of how to maximize the benefits available to Soldiers and their families.

“We’re working collaboratively down to the little details,” he said. “It’s all to the benefit of our military community.”

Making Fort Lewis a better place positively impacts the public’s perception of a military community, he said.

“From a broader community perspective,” Miller said, “the things that they are doing like this are looked upon very highly because they recognize that it’s about family.”