News & Announcements

As 2023 draws to a close and we enter a season of gratitude, we have the opportunity to reflect and give thanks. When I look around our community, I am grateful for the remarkable parks and places that we share: the playgrounds and fields that are vibrant and alive with activity, the quiet trails that allow us to experience the wonders of nature, and the abundant views of mountains, beaches, and wildlife.

I am grateful for the time we have to gather and celebrate during community events like the Scarecrow Festival and the upcoming Cookies with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, where families of all shapes and sizes can carry on traditions and create new memories.

But most of all, I am grateful for you, our community. Thank you for visiting your beautiful parks. Thank you for participating in the hundreds of programs that we provide for all ages and abilities every year. Thank you for your collaboration and partnership, and for generously volunteering your time and talents to enhance our community’s parks and recreation programs. Thank you for engaging with PenMet Parks – your voices shape our priorities. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to enhance the quality of life in our community through parks and recreation.

We are looking forward to continuing to serve everyone in our community in 2024 and beyond. Please review this Parks and Recreation Guide to learn more about upcoming programs and special events, current capital projects including the new indoor Community Recreation Center that is under construction, and other services that are available for you. More information and the latest updates are available on our website.

See you at the park!

Sincerely,

Ally Bujacich, Executive Director

The Board of Park Commissioners will hear a second reading of the updated Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan at the October 17 Board of Commissioners meeting at 6 PM at the Arletta Schoolhouse in Hales Pass Park, 3607 Ray Nash Drive NW, Gig Harbor. The purpose of the PROS Plan is to identify community priorities for parks, recreation, and open space. The PROS Plan was last revised in 2018 and is updated periodically, but at least every six years.

On September 26, the Board of Commissioners held a special Board Study Session regarding the updated PROS Plan then heard the first reading of this plan at the October 3 Board of Commissioners regular meeting. The second reading of the PROS Plan offers both the community and Board of Commissioners another opportunity for further discussion on community priorities for parks, recreation, and open space in the Peninsula Metropolitan Park District.

The 2023 PROS Plan was developed through open forums and survey research that garnered feedback from an array of stakeholders. These participants included District residents, park and recreation partners, and community partners across all levels of the organization. The goals and objectives of the plan are based on the results of this research, to reflect the community’s  priorities; they also help ensure the sustainable provision of parks, trails, and recreation for the next six years.

You can read more about the 2023 Draft PROS Plan on the PenMet Parks website, including a draft copy of the updated PROS Plan and a copy of the presentation delivered at the September 26 Board of Commissioners Meeting.

You can also download a flyer that offers an overview of the PenMet Parks PROS Plan.

Our basketball league is open to all youth in our community from Pre-K to middle school. This will be another fun season that runs January through March. Through youth sports, PenMet Parks is dedicated to helping future generations learn the values of community, leadership, and character development in a fun and safe environment.

Registration opens: Saturday, November 4 at 9 AM. You can register online or by calling our offices at (253) 858-3400. Be sure your ActiveNet account is up to date. If you have any questions prior to registration day, please feel free to email or call our offices.

Registration fee: $150

Financial assistance is available.  Eligibility requirements and an online application form are available on our website. You can also visit or call our office to complete a form. Contact us with questions at [email protected].

Practice begins: The week of January 3. There will be one practice per week and games will be held on Saturdays.

Pre-season jamboree:  Saturday, January 6

Games begin: Saturday, January 13  

Season ends: Saturday, March 23

Teams are grouped by grade levels:

• Pre-K/Junior All Stars: Ages 3-5
• Elementary School:
  • Kindergarten/First Grade
  • Grades 2-3
  • Grades 4-5
• Middle School: Grades 6-8

Friday Night Skills & Drills

PenMet Parks will provide a free one-hour training session every Friday night beginning January 12 and running throughout the season for grades 2 through 8. More details will be available at the first practice. 

Exciting news—Speed and Agility Training with Redline Athletics

PenMet Parks is teaming up with Redline Athletics to offer your young athletes an opportunity to take their game to the next level. In addition to their regular league play, your child can now enjoy an extra dose of basketball action with 30 minutes of expert speed and agility training, followed by 30 minutes of intense basketball play.

The additional fee for this program is $59 for 10 sessions, held on Sunday afternoons during basketball season. It is designed to help players develop their skills, enhance their performance, and boost their confidence on the court. Participation is limited to 30 players, so act fast to secure your child’s spot in this exclusive opportunity and register at the same time you sign up your player for the season.  

Be a Volunteer Coach

Want to help players have fun and improve their skills? Here’s what it takes to be a coach:

• Two-three hours per week
• We supply all equipment.
• PenMet will hold a coaches training and provide additional coaching resources.
• Head coaches receive a fee waiver for their child’s registration.

Learn more and complete your application to serve as a Volunteer Coach.

Referees: We Need YOU

It takes a village to run PenMet Parks’ youth sports programs and we need you to make it happen. We are hiring referees to help oversee games, making sure players follow the rules and keeping the game fair. If you are 15 or older, you can be a referee. Learn more and apply to be a youth basketball referee.

Download our Youth Basketball Season Flyer

PenMet Parks’ Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan is nearing completion. The Peninsula Metropolitan Park District Board of Commissioners is holding a special study session to review the proposed PROS Plan on Tuesday, September 26, at 5 PM at the Arletta Schoolhouse in Hales Pass Park, 3607 Ray Nash Drive NW, Gig Harbor.

The 2023 PROS Plan serves as a guiding vision for PenMet Parks, helping define its leadership and partnership roles within the broader context of parks and recreation in Pierce County. The goals and objectives of the plan are based on the community’s vision and values; they also help ensure the sustainable provision of parks, trails, and recreation for the next six years.

Community engagement during the update process was instrumental in assessing the values and priorities of District residents. The PROS Plan was developed through open forums and surveys that garnered feedback from an array of stakeholders. These included residents, park and recreation partners, community partners, and PenMet Parks team members across all levels of the organization. These developed flexible recommendations that address the needs of parks, trails, open space and recreation throughout the District that significantly contribute to the District’s success.

While this study session is open to the public, no comments will be taken from attendees of this special meeting. Comments are welcome at the next regular Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, October 3 at 5 PM. This meeting will also be held at the Arletta Schoolhouse in Hales Pass Park.