TACOMA, WA: A master plan for Peck Athletic Complex that will greatly expand access and bring more green space to Central Tacoma is moving forward.
At a regularly scheduled Park Board meeting on Monday, commissioners unanimously approved the plan. The vote came after more than 1,400 community members shared input with Metro Parks Tacoma through two public workshops and an interactive website.
“Peck Field is a perfect example of why community voice is essential to planning park spaces,” Park Board President Andrea Smith said. “Thanks to the hundreds of community members who actively engaged with us, this plan reflects what our community has told us are priorities for them.”
Those priorities include improving accessibility and offering more open space where families and loved ones can gather and play.
There is no timeline yet for the full project. Work will be done in phases depending on funding.
For the first phase, Metro Parks will work closely with Tacoma Public Schools and the City of Tacoma to finish designing, permitting and constructing an all-season, multisport field that will serve as home field for Stadium High School’s baseball team and Metro Parks programming.
When organized games and practices are not scheduled, it will be programmed for community use.
The Stadium ballfield was identified as a need during a joint fields study in 2016 to analyze and inventory existing fields and complexes. After dozens of Hilltop residents expressed concern about placing the field at Stanley Playfield, both agencies agreed to move the field to the 9-acre Peck Athletic Complex.
That kicked the master plan process for Peck into high gear.
After incorporating input from the community, design firm Walker/Macy and Metro Parks focused on making the park more accessible and balancing the needs of the neighborhood with the sports community.
Perimeter fencing that for decades made the park inaccessible for more than half the year will come down, allowing people to take advantage of the fields, green space and new amenities.
In addition to two lighted multisport fields, the plan includes several requested features like a walking trail, playground, garden, open lawn and a new building that will double as a concession stand and place to check out sports equipment.
There will be multiple basketball courts and a sports court, as well as a wave wheels track to provide young riders with an opportunity to develop cycling skills.
Because neighbors requested improved public safety, the plan suggests an elevated crossing table for South State and South 14th streets to help calm traffic.
On the west side of State Street, an area of rain gardens already created by neighbors will remain. There will also be a garden building, orchard, native plant garden and community green bordering a new multi-function parking area.