Tumwater plans roundabout, neighborhood park near airport. When will that happen?
The City of Tumwater has plans to construct a roundabout on Old Highway 99 and 79th Avenue, and build out its largest public park parcel just down the road at the site of the old Trails End horse riding arena.
Jared VerHey, the city’s new Capital Projects Manager, walked the Public Works Committee through plans to extend contracts with HDR Engineering and Robert W. Droll Landscape Architects for the projects during a Sept. 4 meeting. The contracts include more money and more detailed information on when residents can expect the new amenities.
VerHey started with the roundabout project, which is being led by HDR Engineering. The roundabout will be adjacent to the Olympia Regional Airport at 79th Avenue Southeast. A Spud’s Produce Market is located on the northeast corner of the intersection.
The project also includes frontage improvements along 79th Avenue and Trails End Drive, east of Old Highway 99, in preparation for the Public Works facility that will be co-located with the new public park.
VerHey said the original agreement in 2003 was for the design of the Old Highway 99 and 79th frontage improvements, with the price tag of $735,000. That contract was extended through December 2026 and includes an additional $122,266.
He said there’s a number of things that need to be wrapped up before construction can begin on the new roundabout. He said the Port of Olympia and the Federal Aviation Administration all need to be looped in on the project, and construction likely won’t start until mid 2026.
VerHey then reviewed contract amendments for the construction of Trails End Park, located off 79th Avenue at Trails End Road.
According to previous reporting, the city purchased the historic property in 2014 for $800,000 and had plans to locate a new Operations & Maintenance Facility and neighborhood park on the 22-acre parcel by 2020, but the project was delayed by the pandemic.
Droll said at an April 2023 meeting that the Trails End property is a bit larger than other neighborhood parks the city has, and it has the best soil in the county.
The idea is to locate the Operations & Maintenance facility, now known as the Public Works facility, across the street to the east of Trails End Road. The commission wants the park itself to be themed to reflect the history of the property, either Western themed to pay homage to the former horse facility, or about the George and Isabella Bush homestead.
All three concepts include an overlook where the public can view the glacial kettle that forms much of the northern portion of the property. The rest of the property is gravelly with some paved sections, and there’s a barn that needs to be demolished. There’s also a large Garry Oak in the middle of the park that will stay put and might become a gathering space with benches and other amenities.
The concepts also include walking trails, a bike pump track, native plantings, garden spaces, water features, playgrounds, pickleball courts and more.
VerHey said the original agreement cost $38,104. He said the new amendment is to help move the project from the design phase to construction. The new price tag is $286,249, and the agreement is extended to Dec. 31, 2027.
He said the project was included in the 2024-2029 Capital Facilities Plan and is funded through the Metropolitan Park District. Design completion is expected by the end of 2026.
VerHey said it’s still to be determined when construction will begin at the park, but it will likely be in 2027.
The Public Works Committee unanimously moved to send the two contract extensions to the City Council for approval on Sept. 16.
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