Staff expanded at Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve

And a reminder about community park maintenance requests 

Summer means more time to spend at PenMet Parks, including special places like DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve at Bella Bella Beach. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, PenMet Parks is once again engaging Seattle’s Finest Security & Traffic Control, a private security firm to supplement daily, on-site staffing, with evening and overnight patrols.

PenMet Parks staff and Seattle’s Finest will help park visitors keep cars and people within park boundaries, and make sure visitors follow park rules. The firm will lock the gates each night at both the Sandspit and the Fox Island Fishing Pier.

Is something broken or not working? Let us know

Park patrons and residents can now contact PenMet Parks 24/7 with maintenance requests through our Community Park Maintenance Request System. It’s easy to use:

  1. Scan a QR code or visit the request portal.
  2. Create a free account.
  3. Let the PenMet staff know what needs to be fixed.

For emergencies, please dial 9-1-1, and for help with urgent, after-hours park issues, please call (253) 255-0555.

PenMet Parks receives $1 million for Community Recreation Center

For immediate release                                                          Contact: Ally Bujacich

Thursday, April 27, 2023                                                        [email protected]

                                                                                               253-858-3400

Gig Harbor, WA – Peninsula Metropolitan Park District (PenMet Parks) will receive $1 million from the $8.9 billion dollar capital budget from the Washington State Legislature for the new Community Recreation Center (CRC).

PenMet Parks is advancing the development of the most exciting and ambitious project in its history. “We are grateful for the partnership with Senator Emily Randall, Representative Michelle Caldier, Representative Spencer Hutchins, and support from the Legislature for this state-of-the-art facility. This project will transform the way our community experiences recreation for years to come,” said Park Board President Steve Nixon. The CRC will serve as a regional anchor for indoor and outdoor community-driven recreation and programming opportunities. The CRC campus is specifically designed to help meet the growing demand for recreation space in Gig Harbor. This accessible and inclusive 64,000 square foot facility, located at 2416 14th Avenue NW at the site of the old Performance Golf Center, will support physical and mental well-being for everyone in our community.

The facility includes an indoor turf field for activities such as soccer, lacrosse, and football, three multi-purpose gymnasiums for basketball, pickleball, and volleyball, an elevated track, as well as multipurpose rooms and other community gathering spaces that will accommodate a wide range of activities. The design provides a campus-like environment with two buildings complementing each other across a multi-use grass area that is sized to accommodate a youth soccer field. Park Commissioner Amanda Babich said, “Gig Harbor is in dire need of more accessible places for youth, families, and seniors to recreate. The Community Recreation Center will help to fill the need for indoor recreation facilities for our community”. The project also includes extending the Cushman Trail from its current southern terminus to 24th Street NW and renovations to the existing miniature golf course.

Phase I, renovating the existing building formerly used as a pro shop, is underway and will be complete in 2023. This renovated facility will provide a programmable community space and serve as PenMet Parks’ permanent administrative headquarters. Phase II, the new indoor recreation center and Cushman Trail extension, is anticipated to be complete in 2024.  

PenMet Parks at a Glance:

  • Formed May 18, 2004 by a vote of the citizens of Gig Harbor/Peninsula.
  • Manages 658 acres of park land with 22 park properties.
  • Maintains 21 miles of trails.
  • Provides hundreds of public recreational programs and special events that serve thousands of people of all ages and abilities every year.

For more information on PenMet Parks or this project please visit www.penmetparks.org.

NEW Recreation Scholarship Program

PenMet Parks is THRILLED to announce the adoption of a new scholarship policy. This action broadens our eligibility by extending the ages to include adults and seniors, increases the income guidelines and individual awards, and removes barriers by providing more ways to apply. We are now using the HUD guidelines (Housing and Urban Development), which considers the cost of housing in our area to determine levels of need.  We are excited to accept applications online, via phone, and with paper options. Please let us know if you have questions about this opportunity or click here to learn more or apply HERE.

Community Meetings: Feasibility Studies for Dedicated Senior Space and Community Aquatics Center

Join us for open community meetings regarding the Feasibility Study for Dedicated Senior Space and Community Aquatics Center with virtual and in-person options for participation. Links for virtual attendance will be updated on our website and posted in the event description (here on Facebook) when they become available. If you would like to attend in-person, you may find us at the Arletta Schoolhouse. We can’t wait to hear from you!

More Details:

Calendar Events:

https://penmetparks.org/event/community-meeting-feasibility-study-for-dedicated-senior-space/2023-02-27/
https://penmetparks.org/event/community-meeting-feasibility-study-for-a-community-aquatics-center/2023-02-27/

Announcing Community Feasibility Studies for a Public Senior Space and for a Public Aquatic Space

PenMet Parks is studying the feasibility of developing and operating a dedicated space for seniors and an aquatics facility for the community. Feasibility studies are a necessary first step in planning public facilities in order to inform the community regarding demand, interests, design options, and estimates of cost.  This study will be conducted through an open public process with community leaders to advise professional consultants.

Please visit the project webpage and look for the opportunities to participate in the feasibility studies:

Click here for the Community Aquatic Center Feasibility Study.

Click here for the Dedicated Space for Seniors Feasibility Study.

Introducing the PenMet Parks Community Park Request App

PenMet Parks is pleased to introduce a new way to communicate maintenance needs using the community park maintenance request system. You are now able to simply and seamlessly submit and track park maintenance requests from your computer or mobile device.

With the community park maintenance request system you can:

  • Identify locations and submit photos to communicate park maintenance requests and issues.
  • Conveniently check or track the status using your computer or mobile device.
  • Be notified each time the status changes until the request is closed.

To access the community park maintenance request system:

This new tool will enhance the response time to maintenance needs and improve the community experience through consistent and transparent communication.

Create an account

Community Park Maintenance Request System FAQs

Learn more: Registering and Logging In

Learn more: Submitting and Viewing a Maintenance Request