Tumwater buys land to build a park in the developing Tumwater Preserve neighborhood

Tumwater City Council approved the purchase of a parcel of land in the Tumwater Preserve to turn it into a park for the developing neighborhood.

The 3.5 acres of land, comprised of a lot and two ponds, one wet and one dry, was approved for purchase on July 7 by Tumwater City Council. Tumwater and the neighborhood’s developer, Sage Wood, had an independent appraisal of the land which valued the parcel at $590,000. After negotiations between Sage Wood and the city, it was sold to the city for $480,000.

One of Tumwater Parks and Recreations’ goals is to have a park near or in as many neighborhoods as possible. This park brings the city closer to that goal. And although the park is for the residents of the developing neighborhood, anyone will be allowed to use it as it is a city park.

“Neighborhood parks serve as recreational and social centers and remain the basic unit of a park system,” wrote Tumwater Communications Manager Ann Cook in an email to The Olympian. “These parks are generally designed to focus on informal active and passive recreation needs of all ages within a given neighborhood.”

While still in the design stage, a mock-up from Tumwater Parks and Recreation shows multiple amenities in the park, including a zip line, basketball half-court, a pavilion, a large play structure, a grassy knoll, and multiple trees, benches and a concrete walkway.

Tumwater Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Denny says that while the design is still being worked on, much of what is seen in the mock-up will be included. “We’re down to the details,” he said. Right now, Denny and his team are trying to determine what kids would like more: slides or a climbing play structure.

In the center of the park is the dry pond, which will have grass planted in it so it can function as a seasonal stormwater pond. Denny said he’s been observing the dry pond for about a year and only seen water in it once, and when it is completed, people will be allowed on it.

The wet pond will be maintained by the city of Tumwater for its ecological benefits and so the homeowners association will not have to take on any costs for it.

A gravel walkway will run the full length of the park and sits adjacent to the wet pond, according to the mock-up.

A 4-foot high, chain-link fence will separate the walkway from the pond and the park from the soon-to-be built houses in Tumwater’s Preserve. Flowers will be put in along the base of the fence for aesthetic purposes.

Currently, construction on the park has no start date, but Denny is hopeful the process can begin within the next year.

This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 5:45 AM.