News and Notes
January’s headlines: A roundabout, a Point Defiance Park open house, and an invitation to weigh in on the waterfront
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Point Defiance Park: We’re OPEN
Point Defiance Park and all of its attractions will remain OPEN once construction on a
roundabout begins at the Pearl Street entrance.
The work might start as early as January. After it does, detour signs will help drivers and pedestrians navigate into and out of the park and make sure ferry riders and boaters can safely get down to the terminal and boat launches.
The project should last about four months. One of the biggest tips we can offer is to use the Mildred Street entrance if you don’t need to get down to the boat launches or ferry terminal by way of Pearl Street. To get to Mildred Street from Pearl Street, turn west onto North 51
st Street and follow the curve at the end.
We’ve posted more tips and information
here.
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If you love Point Defiance Park, visit our open house on Feb. 10
Besides the roundabout, we’re making improvements throughout the park:
- Building the Pacific Seas Aquarium
- Improving driver and pedestrian circulation
- Connecting the park’s trails to Ruston Way
- Building a new recreation area on top of the breakwater peninsula
- Creating a multiuse parking area close to the boat launches
- Planning improvements to Owen Beach
You can learn about all of these improvements, ask questions, and also learn how to get involved through camps, volunteer opportunities and more at our open house Saturday, Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Owen Beach improvements will be one of the highlights. We’ll present some ideas and ask for input; (an online survey will be posted to
DestinationPointDefiance.org for those who can’t attend.)
Additionally, public comment will be received on the final Point Defiance Park Parking and Circulation Plan before this plan moves forward for adoption and a final design phase.
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How would YOU improve Tacoma’s waterfront?
Head over to Portland Avenue Community Center, pick up a marker and jot down your ideas on the big, three-panel photo display of Tacoma’s Ruston Way waterfront. What should you say? Tell us how YOU would improve our waterfront.
We’re asking because Metro Parks and the City of Tacoma are taking a deep look at Ruston Way in particular and Tacoma’s waterfront in general. The aim is to work with the community to create a vision for the waterfront well into the future – what it looks like, what it offers, and how it can be improved.
So keep an eye out for the traveling photo display. You may already have written on it at Downtown to Defiance in September. It will be at Portland Avenue Community Center for a couple of weeks and then ... who knows? The waterfront belongs to everyone no matter where they live in Tacoma, so look for it in community centers and other public locations. We’ll post locations and other ways you can get involved on the project website,
EnvisionOurWaterfront.org.
Write away.
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The topics above are only a small sample of what’s happening in the park district.
The new docks at
Wapato Park are almost finished, and public
restrooms at the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory are under construction. Check out the
Eastside Community Center website for updates on construction progress, and be sure to check this newsletter’s calendar of events for fun things to do.
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Michael Thompson is
public information manager
of Metro Parks Tacoma. Contact
him at (253) 305-1092 or
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Whole Child Access Pass a great way for students to get discounts, special offers with Metro Parks
A message from Park Commissioner Aaron Pointer
The Oakland, Calif., home where I grew up with my brother and sisters was just outside the city’s DeFremery Park. In the 1950s, it boasted all kinds of athletic fields, tennis courts, a community center and a swimming pool that attracted people from all over. It’s where I learned to play baseball and basketball – I didn’t play much football – chess, even table tennis. I attribute access to that park and its programs to my own and my siblings’ development into productive adults.
Not only that, but many of my childhood friends and acquaintances, with whom I shared the park, went on to become outstanding athletes and political leaders. Parks and recreation programs are important.
That’s why Metro Parks and Tacoma Public Schools introduced a program this fall called the Whole Child Access Pass. It gives all 27,000 children enrolled in the school district, and their families, discounts and special offers.
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Aaron Pointer, Clerk
Metro Parks Tacoma
Board of Park Commissioners
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Capital Improvement Projects
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Capital Improvement Projects
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Metro Parks employs latest technology to conserve irrigation water
Weather-based system ensures sustainability, saves money, time.
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The Hotel Hesperides
This hotel lived large in Tacoma during its heyday between 1911 and 1923. It still exists, but is not
exactly the same. Do you know where it is?
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Upcoming Events & Public Meetings
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, January 12
Saturday, January 13
Sunday, January 14
Monday, January 15
Tuesday, January 16
Friday, January 19
Saturday, January 20
Sunday, January 21
Saturday, January 27
Saturday, February 3
Sunday, February 4
Thursday, February 8
Friday, February 9
Saturday, February 10
Sunday, February 11
Wednesday, February 14
Friday, February 16
Saturday, February 17
Sunday, February 18
Monday, February 19
Saturday, February 24
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PUBLIC MEETINGS
Board of Park Commissioners Meeting
Monday, Jan. 22
Monday, Feb. 12 & 26
6:00 pm
Capital Improvement Committee
Wednesday, Jan. 24
Wednesday, Feb. 14 & 28
5:00 pm
Committee of the Whole
Monday, Jan. 29
February 19 meeting cancelled due to President’s Day holiday
5:30 pm
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Metro Parks Tacoma | (253) 305-1030 | metroparkstacoma.org
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