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.