2018 Parks and Recreation Annual Report

2018

PARKS AND RECREATION

ANNUAL REPORT

Contents

1

Message from the Director

4

Park Inventory

5

Highlights & Major Activities

6

Park Maintenance & Operations

12

Park Improvements

13

Conservation & Natural Land Stewardship

15

Recreation Services

16

Financial Highlights

19

Park Performance

21

2018 in Review

22

| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Message from the Director “Community vibrancy happens when people come together in parks, trails, and programs.”

A county of healthy people living happy lives isn’t far out of reach here in Pierce County where we have the mountain, forests, sea, and parks as our playground.

When you close your eyes and think of your last hike through Ashford Park, playing in a tough sport competition at Sprinker Recreation Center, fishing at Spanaway Park, attending the Pierce County Fair, biking the Foothills Trail, teeing off at Lake Spanaway Golf Course, boating on Lake Tapps or flying a kite at the Central Meadow in the Chambers Creek Regional Park, we hope you recall how you felt – refreshed and relaxed - and we hope the memory inspires you to do it again.

Parks are, and should always be, places of peace, joy and natural beauty that bring physical and emotional relief from the daily stress in life.

Regardless of age, over half of all Americans say they visit local parks, trails, picnic areas, lakes and beaches to experience the health benefits of nature. We think that number is even higher in Pierce County, where we offer welcoming spaces reaching from the mountain to the sea.

In a Pierce County park is where most of us want to be each day.

Persons of every age and ability can find their “happy” in a park. Park agencies offer youth, senior and specialized programming many residents rely on for their quality of life.

According to the National Recreation and Parks Association, vast majorities of millennials (89%), Gen Xers (82%) and baby boomers (77%) turn to nature for its health benefits and parents flock to visit waterbodies, trails, campgrounds and sports fields as an important part of raising their children.

We are proud to invest in our mission every day, providing opportunities for people to connect with nature, live healthy lifestyles, enjoy vibrant community spaces, and learn about sustainable practices. This is how we contribute to creating a vibrant Pierce County where people choose to live, work and raise a family. Vibrancy happens when a community is filled with healthy environments that inspire play, social connection and healthy activity – in short, it happens when they are filled with parks, trails, and programs.

This report explains how Pierce County Parks effectively and strategically uses public resources to strengthen families and connect community through unique and engaging parks and programs that inspire play, exploration, relaxation and appreciation of nature. Hopefully it serves as validation of what you already know – there is a connection between healthy and happy, and that connection comes most naturally when we step outside and play together in public parks and programs.

R ox a nne Mile s DIRECTOR, PARKS AND RECREATION

PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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Park Inventory Pierce County encompasses approximately 1,800 square miles, of which 1,670 square miles is land and 130 square miles (7.2%) is water. Pierce County has a land area larger than the entire State of Rhode Island (1,545 square miles).

The County landscape varies widely, from the summit of Mount Rainier at 14,411 feet, to the steep foothills of the Cascades, to the rolling uplands, flat plains, and shores of the Puget Sound. Although Pierce County ranks 23rd in size out of Washington’s 39 counties, its 2017 population makes it the fourth most densely populated county in Washington State.

The Parks and Recreation Services inventory includes 44 parkland sites.

REGIONAL PARKS

Acreage

Chambers Creek Regional Park Chambers Bay Golf Course Chambers Creek Meadow and Trails Chambers Creek Canyon

340.5 185.0 204.8

Spanaway Regional Park Bresemann Forest 65.9 Lake Spanaway Golf Course 128.8 Spanaway Park 88.9 Sprinker Recreation Center 44.1

Subtotal 1,058

DEVELOPED COUNTY PARKS

Acreage

Ashford County Park 84.0

Frontier Park 71.4

Heritage Recreation Center 46.9

Meridian Habitat Park 35.7

North Lake Tapps Park 135.2

Subtotal 373.2

UNDEVELOPED COUNTY PARKS

Acreage

Acreage

100-Acre Woods 109

Buckley Forestland Preserve 221

Carbon River Valley 488.3

Devils Head 94

Fairfax Properties 1,080

Fairfax Town Site 155.5

Lake Tapps Habitat 27.2

Nisqually River Interpretive Center 68.5

Parkland Habitat 4.9

Puget Creek Beach 1.9

Seeley Lake Park 46

South Pierce Wetland 156.4

Swan Creek Park 97.3

Subtotal 2,550

DEVELOPED LINEAR PARKS/TRAILS

Acreage

Foothills Trail 529.3

Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail 1.6

Puyallup River Levee Trail 1.5

Subtotal 532.4

Buckley-Bonney Lake 80.0

Cross Property 64.0 Orangegate 146.6 Rimrock 139.3

Subtotal 430

UNDEVELOPED LINEAR PARKS/TRAILS Acreage

LOCAL PARKS

UNCLASSIFIED SITES

Acreage

Dawson Playfield 5.1

Gonyea Playfield 12.4

Hopp Farm 38.8

Lidford Playfield 9.8

Mayfair Playfield 4.6

South Hill Community Park 39.6

Subtotal 110.2

SPECIAL USE FACILITIES

Acreage

Fort Steilacoom Golf Course 81.9

Herron Point 0.3

Lakewood Community Center 3.7

Purdy Sand Spit 64.0

Riverside Park 36.1

Subtotal 186 5

RESOURCE CONSERVANCY PARKS

| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Ohop Trail Extension Half Dollar Park

13.7 2.3

Subtotal

16

Acreage

Ellsworth Conservatory 1.4

Wales Property 2.5

Subtotal 3.9

CEMETERIES Acreage

265 Ave. E. Cemetery 6.3

Lake Tapps Pioneer Cemetery 1.0

Old Settlers Cemetery 4.2

Roy Cemetery 0.3

Subtotal 11.8

GRAND TOTAL ACREAGE

5,271

Highlights & Major Activities Chambers Creek Regional Park (CCRP) Parks assumed operations of Chambers Creek Regional Park in 2011 when management was transferred from Pierce County Public Works. The 185-acre park wraps around Chambers Bay Golf Course and offers spectacular water and mountain views. It includes two miles of beach, two open space meadows, two soccer fields, four miles of paved trails, children’s playground equipment, an off-leash dog park, and picnic areas. Trails extend into the adjacent 205-acre Chambers Creek Canyon. Parks also manages meeting and event rentals at the Environmental Services Building (ESB).

Community partnerships with Kemper Sports and the Chambers Creek Foundation have increased the value and popularity of leisure classes, catering services, and outdoor events including the CCRP Family Campout, Cinema on the Sound, and the Kite Festival. Donations from Whole Foods Market also made a large impact to the success of the Mystery Dinner series, Santa Breakfast, and Sunset Yoga events. Foss Waterway Seaport, UK Elite, and Pierce County Public Works’ environmental educators have also partnered with the department to offer youth enrichment camps and clinics throughout the year.

The staff worked in concert with the University Place School District and the Washington Interscholastic and Athletic Association to host both invitational and qualifying cross-country meets. Non-profit organizations including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Fight the Flu Foundation, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation-hosted charity walk/run events along the paved trails.

This was the second year for the children’s festival, Kidz Kraze, which included field games, bounce houses, painting sessions, glass sundial building, and origami making. Community partners included the Tacoma Children’s Museum, Art Studio 27, West Pierce Fire District, the YMCA, and the Boy Scouts of America.

Over 600 children and their families attended.

2018 ACTIVITY NUMBERS: Leisure Classes Adult Youth

629 1,682

Special Events

Kite Festival

Kidz Kraze Children’s Festival

Cinema on the Sound

Spring Egg Hunt

Family Campout Dances/Parties

8,500 600 400 2,100 146 390

Short Term Rentals

ESB Room Rentals

Field Rentals Park Visitors

Trail Users

Park Visitors COST RECOVERY: COST PER ACRE: EXPENDITURES: # SERVED:

43,625 38,800 291,000 153,200 15% $6,835.32 $1,538,811.22 541,072

In addition, a partnership with a local yoga studio to offer an outdoor yoga and music event in the meadow was a success, garnering about 80 registrants. Other partners included Whole Foods, Brew Dr. Kombucha, and Tuladhara Yoga.

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Chambers Bay Golf Course

Spanaway Park

Located in University Place, Chambers Bay Golf Course is one of the top public courses in the nation and the first course in the Northwest to welcome the U.S. Open Championship. Parks oversees the 340.5-acre British links-style course and clubhouse with management by Kemper Sports for daily operations.

Towering Douglas Fir trees watch over 89 acres of beautiful park land in Spanaway Park adjacent to Spanaway Lake. The park includes two swimming beaches, a public boat launch, a fishing pier, 5 picnic shelters with restrooms, children’s play equipment, a 3-mile paved trail system, softball fields, basketball courts, and several thousand feet of accessible shoreline along Spanaway Lake. Spanaway Park is open year-round for fishing and the public boat launch and fishing pier are heavily used.

The course experienced strong spring and summer usage, achieving 99% of the projected annual rounds of golf. (Prior year rounds were 30,808.)

Average green fee per round was $105.47. Of the rounds played, 29% were at non-resident rates, 17% were resident rates and 54% were rates associated with other categories or promotional rates. Approximately 60% of available tee-times were utilized.

The average revenue per round was $203.34 including food and beverage, catering and merchandise sales.

•

Food & Beverage bettered the prior year primarily due to catering (up 8%) with strong future contracted bookings for 2019. Social 6, winetasting, and special menu items sustained a base of sales through the course closure and served new audiences.

•

Merchandise revenues exceeded budget by $53,079; performing 20% better than budgeted.

•

The Chambers Bay Academy has continued to grow, exceeding budget and prior year at 133%.

The course was closed October 1, 2018 to re-sod the putting greens. Project costs were covered by a $150,000 Lodging Tax Grant. Ed Taano, golf course shaper for the course’s architect, Robert Trent Jones II, began construction of improvements to the Lower #9 teeing ground. Fertilization and protection of all greens, rolling and topdressing of putting surfaces occurred fall and winter in preparation of the course reopening in April, 2019.

The Interfund loan balance of $2,752,510 was paid off in 2018.

General Fund allocations for Chambers Bay Golf Course included this payment, $800,000 in revenue off-set for the course closure and $500,000 for course improvements. Only $234,722 of the budget for improvements was utilized in 2018; the remaining $500,000 is represented in the $534,271 surplus carry-forward at the end of 2018. Go Bond principal and interest of $1,189,726 was paid in 2018.

COST RECOVERY: COST PER ACRE: EXPENDITURES: # OF ROUNDS:

7

78% $17,294.84 $7,078,619.07 26,784

| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

The park is host to numerous public and private events and activities, including outrigger canoe races, hydroplane races, large military and company picnics, car shows, walks, runs and scavenger hunts. It is also one of only two freshwater beaches in our system and is extremely popular on hot summer days.

Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park, the largest drive-through display of holiday lights in the Northwest, attracted 29,339 vehicles and over 193,000 spectators during the 41-night event.

The park is also the operational base for the Parks maintenance staff. Spanaway Park employees also care for other local parks and playfields.

2018 ACTIVITY NUMBERS: Sports Leagues Youth T-ball Special Events Woof Woof Walk Fantasy Lights Walk Fantasy Lights Drive Outboard Hydro Races Outrigger Canoe Races Short Term Rentals Picnic Shelter Rentals

1,400 200 8,010 193,756 1,000 700 24,234

Parks Visitors – Summer (park entrance fees) Memorial Day – Labor Day 117,972 Trail Users 108, 750

COST RECOVERY: COST PER ACRE: EXPENDITURES: # SERVED:

44% $12,674.82 $1,379,188.63 455,237

Sprinker Recreation Center Sprinker Recreation Center is a regional 74,100-square foot indoor and outdoor sports complex that serves all ages and abilities. The Center includes NHL regulation-size ice skating arena, four indoor tennis courts, and several meeting and banquet rooms. The outdoor facilities at Sprinker include six outdoor tennis courts, two basketball courts, eight lighted softball/baseball fields, playground, climbing rock, and a skate park. Whether walking through the trails of our 66- acre Bresemann Forest, playing at the children’s playground, or riding the massive skate park, this sports complex has something for everyone.

This regional park hosts a wide variety of sporting events that draw from all over the Pacific Northwest region including figure skating, ice hockey, softball, baseball, tennis and climbing events hosted by local partners and athletic organizations. The meeting room spaces are utilized for meetings, receptions, birthday parties, and leisure classes. Sprinker offers weekly classes in yoga, puppy/dog obedience, karate, gymnastics, belly dancing, ballet, and engineering for kids.

Sprinker regularly hosts the 555 Military Brigade and their families for an all-day celebration that draws well over 1,000 participants. Cross Revolution Cyclocross Association considers Sprinker the perfect location for a leg of their race series which draws over 500 cyclists from all over the region. The unique combination of open space and activities here at Sprinker is a rare find.

Special events include Touch a Truck, Mobile Food Fest, Junk in the Trunk, Classic Car and Truck Show, Reflections on Ice, Holiday Crafter’s Creations, Movies in the Park and Winterfest are annual staples and some of the most beloved activities.

Partnerships are extremely important to the success of Sprinker.

Both youth and adult athletic organizations such as the Ice Skating Institute, Tacoma Youth Hockey, the Lakewood Winter Club, Greater Seattle Hockey, Pacific Northwest Tennis and others ensure the best recreation opportunities and instruction are provided.

One of the greatest partnership successes came in the form of a grant with Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. The Outdoor Leadership Instruction and Field Experiences (L.I.F.E.) program is a collaborative project led by Pierce County Parks to provide court-associated youth living in unincorporated

Pierce County with access to nature-based and recreation-based outdoor adventure experiences. Washington State University Cooperative Extension and Pierce County Juvenile Court are key partners for this project. The first two of five sessions held in 2018 had 18 participants.

2018 ACTIVITY NUMBERS: Sports Camps 3,845 Leisure Classes Adult Youth

721 5,195

Sports Leagues Youth Adult

6,285 21,886

Sports Programs Tennis Public Ice Skating Hockey Skateboarding Figure Skating

21,507 39,656 7,971 6,279 22,403

Special Events Movies In the Park Crafter’s Creations Dances/Birthday Parties Junk in the Trunk Mobile Food Fest Touch A Truck Car Show Skating Competitions Short Term Rentals Field Rentals Room/Facility Rentals

1,350 1,612 3,090 2,918 8,500 3,500 1,500 919 17,210 18,461

Parks Visitors 55,000

COST RECOVERY: COST PER ACRE: COST PER SQ. FT: EXPENDITURES: # SERVED:

41% $10,069.22 $33.49 $2,481,542.37 249,808

Lake Spanaway Golf Course Lake Spanaway Golf Course is a challenging 129-acre course that appeals to both novice and competitive golfers. From the old growth Douglas firs that line every fairway to the well-placed bunkers and large greens, Lake Spanaway is truly a wonderful golf experience, with growing appeal. The course is home to a men’s and women’s club and volunteer crew of player assistants.

The total revenue per round was $38.68 in 2018, with the overall cost per round of $46.01. Improvements to the course and clubhouse in 2018 included replacement of grinder pumps in the sewer system, upgrading exterior lighting to energy efficient LED, and removal of diseased trees from the course.

COST RECOVERY: 84% COST PER ACRE: $13,524.48 EXPENDITURES: $1,744,658.07 # OF ROUNDS: 37,923

PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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Heritage Recreation Center

Meridian Habitat Park and Community Center Meridian Habitat Park and Community Center is a 36-acre park including a 15,509-square foot community center with a large meeting space suitable for hosting events and activities. The site also includes an outdoor amphitheater, an event lawn, a nature playground, restroom, a unique off-leash dog park in woodlands, wetlands, a pond and a variety of wildlife habitat.

Heritage Recreation Center is a popular tournament level sports complex located in the South Hill Community between Rogers High School and Zeiger Elementary School. It boasts baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, and ultimate frisbee multipurpose fields. The 88-acre park is the result of a partnership between the Puyallup School District, which owns the land, and Pierce County which developed, operates and maintains the facilities. The 1.6-mile Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail connects Heritage Recreation Center to South Hill Park. The complex includes a lighted baseball field with a synthetic infield, four lighted softball fields, five soccer fields, one multipurpose synthetic field, a children’s play area, and nearly 500 parking spaces available for major special events and tournaments.

Heritage Recreation Center continues to be one of the most sought- after sports venues in the county. Weekend tournament usage commenced the end of February and ran through mid-October. Tournaments consisted of adult slowpitch, youth baseball, girls fastpitch, soccer, ultimate frisbee and grass volleyball. Tournament play ranged from recreation leagues to WIAA-sponsored events. Heritage was host to the SPSL, WIAA, USSSA, GSL, Special Olympics, Dakine and Reach Volleyball.

2018 ACTIVITY NUMBERS: Camp Programs Challenger Soccer

95

Sports Leagues Adult Slowpitch

17,037

Special Events No Sun Fun Run

185

Short Term Rentals Field Rentals

56,005

Park Visitors Trail Users Heritage Recreation Center South Hill Community Park COST RECOVERY: COST PER ACRE: EXPENDITURES: # SERVED: 9

109,500 41,800 31,800

61% $6,021.43 $593,661.42 256,422

| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

This unique park is an ideal location in the middle of South Hill Puyallup to host a variety of events and activities including car shows, family reunions, weddings, and corporate parties and functions. In addition, the Recreation division continues to offer a plethora of family events throughout the year from dances to free movies in the park and concerts to increase the popularity of this site in the heart of unincorporated Pierce County.

2018 ACTIVITY NUMBERS: Leisure Classes

Adult

Youth

3,720 1,102

Special Events

Movies and Concerts Dances/Parties

1,015 487

Short Term Rentals

Room & Facility Rentals Long Term Rentals

Outdoor Food Bank

41,139 9,474

Park Visitors 33,600 COST RECOVERY: COST PER ACRE: COST PER SQ. FT: EXPENDITURES: # SERVED:

23% $9,273.33 $23.50 $470,750.40 90,537

Frontier Park

Ashford County Park

The majestic 71-acre Frontier Park is located in the heart of Graham and is home to many uses, including the Pierce County Fair. It is a rustic park that invites the local community to enjoy many of the unique features of the park – such as the equestrian arena with stables, ADA accessible playground, and the quarter-midget race track.

Several unique rental facilities are available at the park, including meeting rooms, barn stalls, horse arena, playfields, and picnic shelters to host a variety of events, celebrations, and corporate gatherings.

Located along SR 706 a few miles from the Nisqually entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park, Ashford County Park is a wonderful addition to the Ashford community and a welcome rest stop for travelers to the national park.

This 84-acre park opened in 2010 and features an accessible children’s play area, restrooms, 2.5 miles of paved trails, open lawn, and parking. The park’s centerpiece is a 55,000-square foot outdoor amphitheater for concerts and community events. Due to the location and size of the property, Parks works with on-site camp hosts and a caretaker to help manage the site.

Leisure classes such as yoga, music, and karate along with special events including the annual daddy daughter dance, “barnyard” sale, Gross Out Olympics, and movies in the park are just a few of the many offerings for local residents to connect and recreate.

2018 ACTIVITY NUMBERS: Sports Camps 227

COST RECOVERY: COST PER ACRE: EXPENDITURES: # SERVED:

Park Visitors 84,000 North Lake Leisure Classes

Adult

Youth

14% $436.00 $42,442.68 43,800

Tapps Park

Our most popular freshwater access park is 135-acre North Lake Tapps Park with 10,000 feet of waterfront access. It offers one of only two public boat launches Special Events on the lake. The park attracts picnickers, sunbathers and

Gross Out Olympics 90 swimmers during the summer with spectacular views of Dances/Parties 300 Mount Rainier. Other times of the year the park is popular

Barnyard Sale 1,000 with walkers, bird watchers, dog walkers, and fishermen.

The lake is a popular fishing site for tiger musky, Long Term Rentals smallmouth bass, carp, yellow perch, and rainbow trout.

Highland Games 1,918 The park also has three miles of trails through the forest

Pierce County Fair 19,240 and along the shore. Every July, East Pierce Fire and

Qtr Midget Track 4,790 Rescue hosts “Splashtacular,” an educational event to Short Term Rentals teach families about the importance of cold water safety.

Field/Arena Rentals 4,000

Room Rentals Picnic Shelter Rentals

6,483 2,012

30,745 14,665

2018 ACTIVITY NUMBERS: Park Visitors – Summer (park entrance fees)

Memorial Day – Labor Day 57,840

Fall, Winter, Spring 24,400 COST RECOVERY: COST PER ACRE: EXPENDITURES: # SERVED:

COST RECOVERY: COST PER ACRE: EXPENDITURES: # SERVED:

36% $2,334.95 $345,784.37 82,240

58% $6,031.32 $743,962.90 189,460 PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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Foothills National Regional Trail

Lakewood Community Center

The Foothills Trail is constructed along a historic railroad bed and winds through the river valley southeast of Tacoma. It is a 12-foot wide non-motorized asphalt trail with a soft shoulder path for equestrians.

The Lakewood Community Center is home to the department’s administrative offices and offers many activities, programs, and services for local and regional residents.

The last trail section between the City of Buckley and the Town of South Prairie was completed in November 2017 with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony occurring in May 2018.

The 19-mile trail between the East Puyallup trailhead and the City of Buckley is a popular commuter route and recreational destination for bicyclists and walkers. The trail follows the Carbon River upstream through farmland and forest, and offers unobstructed views of nearby Mt. Rainier.

The 34,000-sq. ft. center features a collegiate-sized gymnasium and popular meeting rooms. It also hosts the Lakewood Senior Activity Center and provides outdoor access to the 48-acre Seeley Lake Park and Trail.

In partnership with the Foothills Rails to Trails Coalition, the annual Rainier to Ruston 51-mile Ultra Relay was held on June 2, National Trails Day, and attracted over 1,400 runners, both individual runners and relay teams. The race began near the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park and ended at Ruston Way in Tacoma.

2018 ACTIVITY NUMBERS: Foothills Dash 5K & 10K

275

Daily Rentals for Special Events

Runs, Walks, Bike Rides (25 events) Trail Users COST RECOVERY: COST PER MILE: EXPENDITURES: # SERVED:

7,005 261,000 14% $15,090.69 $366,454.75 268,280

The gymnasium offers the largest public pickleball and badminton programs in the area, along with semi-pro basketball, high school basketball and volleyball, youth basketball and indoor soccer, birthday parties, family movie nights, private group sports rentals, and Crafter’s Creations holiday bazaar each November.

2018 ACTIVITY NUMBERS: Leisure Classes

Adult Youth

Adult Trips

263 887 264

Special Population Activities

Companionship Classes

Camp Pierce

Club Pierce

404 395 883

Sports Programs Pickleball Badminton

Youth Basketball

Youth Volleyball

9,691 601 4,292 950

Special Events

Family Movie Night

Senior Games

Crafter’s Creations

63 85 1,570

Short Term Rentals

Gymnasium Rentals

Room Rentals

Equipment Rentals

Camp Lots of Fun

52,472 21,290 15 1,280

Long Term Rentals

Lakewood Senior Center

Seeley Lake Park Trail Users

1,810 23,400

COST RECOVERY: COST PER ACRE: COST PER SQ. FT: EXPENDITURES: # SERVED:

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| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

36% $7,655.49 $18.69 $635,547.31 120,215

Park Maintenance & Operations Our Parks Division staff takes a great deal of pride in making sure that all park sites and facilities are ready for public use seven days per week. They are responsible for opening the gates, ensuring functional utilities, servicing equipment, securing the parks, maintaining healthy vegetation, mowing the grass, hauling the garbage, cleaning the rest rooms and picnic shelters, lining the fields, manicuring the putting greens and fairways, maintaining the miles of trails, and supporting recreation programs and facility rentals.

In addition to the 12 premier locations used by the community, Pierce County Parks maintains 32 other properties including cemeteries, rental homes, local playfields like Gonyea, Lidford and Mayfair, neighborhood parks like Dawson, and several parcels being held for future development.

The entire Parks system includes 5,271 acres, 2,550 acres of which are nature conservancy lands that are part of a responsive, or as needed, maintenance program designed to protect the quality of the open space. The other 2,721 acres are developed and require scheduled maintenance programs receiving routine and preventative services.

The Parks division uses a three-tiered level of service (low, medium and high) based on the degree to which the public accesses a park.

Most service goes into our 12 developed primary locations that offer programs and events in addition to passive use opportunities.

Park care is divided into four geographic zones: • West Zone Chambers Creek, Key Peninsula, and Lakewood • North Zone Foothills Trail and Lake Tapps/Plateau • South East Zone South Hill Puyallup, Graham, Ashford, and Frederickson • Central Zone Spanaway and Mid-County

The median-level operating expenditures nationwide is $6,750 per acre of lands managed by a park agency. Pierce County’s rate is $8,958 for its 2,721 acres of all developed lands, and $4,624 if costs are spread across all 5,271 acres managed by the department.

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Park Improvements Improvements are made throughout the park system each year. Projects identified through the Capital Facilities Program are managed by the Resource Stewardship Division. The Parks Division addresses additional preservation, renovation, improvements, and maintenance projects.

Planned Maintenance & Trade Program Eleven projects were completed by the two-person Planned Maintenance crew in 2018 at six different park sites: •

Renovation of outdoor restroom (South) at Frontier Park

•

Replace protective netting on six soccer fields and children’s play area at Heritage Recreation Center

•

Replace roof and carpeting in house at Hopp Farm and complete general repairs in house at Hopp Farm

•

Complete renovations of men’s and women’s locker restrooms at the Lakewood Community Center

• Install LED lighting in the Lakewood Community Center gymnasium •

Purchase ceiling tiles and lighting fixtures for clubhouse at Lake Spanaway Golf Course

•

Complete installation of LED lights in clubhouse parking lot at Lake Spanaway Golf Course

•

Purchase playground equipment to replace aging equipment at Spanaway Park Total work hours: Total program cost:

3,880 $373,152

Capital Project Completion Planning for parks includes a 15-year view of needs, as well as a scheduled 6-year program of improvements.

Improvements are scheduled based on need, resources and policy decisions. The amount of Park impact fees collected grew in 2017, allowing the department to assume a more aggressive design and development program. Park impact fees are used to bring new capacity to the park system through 1) expanding the regional trail system, 2) adding new features in existing parks and 3) adding parks in urbanizing areas of the county.

Eighteen projects were scheduled for 2018. Some projects were in the design phase, while other projects were completed in 2018. Funding not expended is carried into the next year for the completion of planned projects.

Trails Construction Fund Parks Construction Fund: • •

$7,811,790 budgeted $3,810,785 expended

• • • •

13

| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

$916,000 budgeted $308,016 expended $50,000 donation from the Foothills Rails to Trails Coalition $501,428 RCO state grant received for 2017 trail construction

Meridian Habitat Improvements Major development continued at Meridian Habitat Park located at the corner of 144th and SR161. This park now has play areas and things to do for people of all ages.

2018 additions included a great lawn, walking path, off-leash area and a new 1% for art project that announces the park and activities through an electronic reader board held up by an art piece titled ‘Sway’ designed by Chris Spadafore.

Cross Park Design Completion Parks completed the full design and bid documents for the Stan and Joan Cross Park located in Frederickson. Construction will start in 2019 and is anticipated to be completed in mid-late 2020. The park will have a small community center converted from former barns, a playground, trails and open lawn areas. A total of $4 million is carried into 2019 for this project.

Heritage Soccer Field & Baseball Field Turf Replacements In 2018, one of the soccer fields at Heritage Complex was converted to artificial turf along with a replacement of artificial turf infield on a baseball field. Both fields are made of Envirofill, which is an acrylic coated silica. Envirofill was chosen because of its sustainability and health attributes. Envirofill is safer, cleaner, longer-lasting than similar products. It is the only reusable turf infill on the market and is guaranteed to last 16 years.

Parkland Prairie Educational Kiosk and ADA Trail Parkland Prairie received the final step in reclaiming this former 5-acre overgrown site. Parks has worked in partnership with several local organizations to remove debris and invasive species, create bee and pollinator habitat and to restore the prairie. In 2018, an educational kiosk was constructed along with an ADA path and educational signage about features and habitat at the site.

Swan Creek Bridge Parks worked in partnership with MetroParks Tacoma to replace an old wooden bridge across Swan Creek with a new steel bridge. The bridge provides access to a large trail system located on the Tacoma portion of Swan Creek and provides wonderful access for public viewing of salmon.

Additional 2018 Design & Construction Projects: •

Lake Tapps bulkhead and restroom replacement (2020 construction)

•

A building for storage of lights for the Fantasy Lights program (2019 construction)

•

A sport and event lawn at Chambers Creek Regional Park (2019 construction)

•

Pre-design and analysis of adding team rooms at Sprinker (2019 engineering)

•

Spanaway shop roof replacement (2019 construction)

•

Trail design for Lidford Playfield (2019 construction)

•

Sprinker Tennis Center HVAC system replacement

•

Crosswalk connection and entry sidewalk at Spanaway Park

•

Hazmat building at Spanaway Park

•

2020 Parks Recreation Open Space and Strategic Plan

•

Purdy Spit site distance and crosswalk improvement

•

Pre-design and cost estimates for Frontier arena roof

•

Re-design of Foothills Trail at the entrance to High Cedars

PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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Conservation & Natural Land Stewardship Conservation Futures & Open Space The Conservation Futures and Open Space Program completed a total of three project purchases from the 2017 adopted selection list including: •

Busy Wild Phase II for Nisqually Land Trust

•

South Oro Bay for Nisqually Land Trust

•

Taylor Bay Phase II for KeyPen Parks

In 2018, 713 acres were conserved through the Conservation Future and Open Space program. Thirteen applications from 2017 were reviewed and scored by the Conservation Futures and Open Space Citizens’ Advisory Board. To date, 5,558 acres have been secured and preserved through this program.

Natural areas and forests need care and diversification for health and public safety.

Land Stewardship Trees must be monitored for safety and disease. Resource Stewardship has been addressing tree health in the most utilized and heavily forested parks, such as Spanaway Park, Bresemann Forest, and Meridian Habitat Park.

In 2018, hazardous trees were removed from Dawson Playfield, Meridian Habitat Park, the Grandview Trail at Chambers Creek Regional Park, North Lake Tapps Park, and the Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail at South Hill Community Park.

An ongoing stewardship and maintenance plan was also completed for Parkland Prairie Nature Preserve.

Restoration work and removal of invasive species is primarily accomplished through volunteers.

In 2018, Pitch in for Parks held 23 events with 533 volunteers assisting with park beautification projects.

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| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Recreation Services Inspiring active healthy lifestyles, creating a sense of community, and establishing family traditions in Piece County.

Events such as the popular Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park and the annual Kite Festival at Chambers Creek Regional Park are two examples of the Recreation Services Division’s continued success.

Programs and events are designed to serve a variety of ages, ranging from athletic leagues to special events to day camps. Specific programs support 50+ older adults, teens, preschool age children and individuals with disabilities. Recreation programs are provided in six major areas: Adult and Youth Sports/ Recreation; Special Events; Ice Arena Activities; Golf; Specialized Programs; and Volunteer Programs.

Adult & Youth Sports/Recreation

Golf

Special Events & Activities

Ice Arena Activities

Specialized Programs

Volunteer Programs

PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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Recreation Services Adult Sports and Recreation Our Adult Men’s, Women’s, and Co-Rec summer and fall slowpitch leagues attracted 186 teams; the largest programs in Pierce County. Baseball, softball, fastpitch, and soccer tournaments were booked 30 out of the 31 available weekends between March and September at Heritage Recreation Center and 24 out of 31 available weekends at Sprinker Recreation Center. Co-ed Pickleball attracted 9,691 participants during the year-round program at the Lakewood Community Center Gymnasium.

Youth Sports and Recreation Approximately 900 youth participated on 74 teams, benefiting from recreational sports play opportunities in co-ed outdoor soccer, basketball, t-ball and coach-pitch, girls volleyball and fast-pitch, and boys baseball. Early introduction to sports promotes sportsmanship, builds a healthy, active lifestyle and develops youth athletic talent for competitive advancement.

Both Sprinker Recreation Center and Heritage Recreation Center hosted several youth baseball and fast-pitch tournaments attracting teams from throughout the region. Sprinker Recreation Center is the only public facility in the area that has the capacity to host eight softball games run at the same time. In addition, Northwest Tennis hosted the 3A and 4A West Central District Tennis Championships on the four indoor and six newly surfaced outdoor tennis courts at Sprinker. WIAA Boys Baseball playoff games were held at Heritage Recreation Center again this year. Two large high school cross country meets, the Curtis Invite and the WIAA Regional Championships, occurred at Chambers Creek Regional Park with over 1,000 runners in each meet and a few thousand spectators.

Special Events & Activities •

More than 600 participants attended the two annual “Daddy/Daughter” dances in February and one “Mother/Son” dance in early spring.

•

The Frontier Park Barn Yard Sale held on April 14 attracted over 1,000 bargain hunters.

•

The first annual free Spring Egg Hunt held in the Central Meadow at Chambers Creek Regional Park attracted over 2,100 participants.

•

Thousands of treasure seekers descended on the Sprinker parking lot to attend three Junk in the Trunk events with over 240 vendors.

•

Almost 2,000 people attended the 49th annual Tacoma Highland Games held at Frontier Park on June 22-23.

•

The Foothills Rails to Trails Coalition hosted the Rainier to Ruston Ultra Relay on National Trails Day, June 2, on the Foothills Trail and attracted over 1,400 runners.

•

The free Movies in the Park series drew almost 1,000 people at Chambers Creek Regional Park with an additional 1,150 movie seekers at Meridian Habitat Park and Sprinker Recreation Center during July and August.

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| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

•

Almost 8,500 people attended the Kite Festival at Chambers Creek Regional Park on August 4 which included demonstrations, family kite flying, food trucks, face painting and bounce houses.

•

The four-day Pierce County Fair held at Frontier Park in August attracted 19,240 spectators.

•

21 food truck vendors visited Sprinker Recreation Center on August 18 for the Mobile Food Fest. Over 8,500 attendees listened to live music provided by three bands and enjoyed a wide selection of great foods.

•

More than 3,500 children and family members explored 32 different trucks and vehicles at the 11th annual Touch A Truck free event held at Sprinker Recreation Center on September 8.

•

The 16th annual Classic Car and Truck Show held at Sprinker Recreation Center on September 22 attracted over 1,500 spectators.

•

“Crafter’s Creations” holiday bazaars at the Lakewood Community Center and Sprinker Recreation Center attracted almost 3,200 shoppers in the months of November and December.

•

Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park attracted 193,756 spectators in 29,339 vehicles.

Ice Arena Activities The ice rink at Sprinker Recreation Center is the focal point for numerous skating-related programs and activities, including classes, performances, recreational skating, ice shows and competitions, figure skating, hockey, broomball, birthday parties, and school year-end parties. Public ice skating sessions at Sprinker Recreation Center attracted 39,656 participants. An additional 30,374 participated in figuring skating and hockey programming.

Golf Golf activities offered at Chambers Bay and Lake Spanaway Golf Courses make golf a notable program area. In addition to recreational play, the courses provide lessons, driving range and academy options, tournaments, and junior golf programs. A total of 64,707 rounds of golf were played between the two courses.

Volunteer & Internship Programs Volunteers provided 10,690 hours of service to Pierce County Parks by helping with special events and programs as youth sports coaches, golf course marshals, working on Eagle Scout projects and park beautification projects and serving on two advisory boards.

Our Pitch In For Parks program continues to grow and logged over 1,103 hours of service at 23 sites with 533 participants. Volunteer activities included invasive plant removal, litter pick-up, wood chip spreading, and native shrub planting.

Parks recognized individual and group volunteers at the Pierce County Volunteer Recognition Brunch held at the McGavick Conference Center in March. The following individuals were recognized for their outstanding volunteer service to Pierce County in 2018: Kay Bridges, Joe Fasy and Derek Schluter. We also recognized the outstanding service of the following groups: Chambers Creek Foundation, Friends of Stan and Joan Cross Park, Pacific Lutheran University Men’s Basketball Team, Pitch In For Parks volunteers, and the Rogers High School Key Club.

Specialized Programs & Partnerships Our Companionship program continues to offer a wide variety of activities and events designed for children and young adults of all abilities and skill levels. Camp Lots of Fun was held at Surprise Lake Middle School and celebrated it’s 47th year with 70 campers. Camp Pierce, designed for young adults with disabilities, was offered for six consecutive weeks. Each week, campers learned about public transportation, volunteered at community sites, took field trips, and participated in recreational activities.

Parks mentored seven interns in summer 2018 - three in Recreation, three in Resource Stewardship and one in Park Maintenance. Each intern served an average of 290 hours, over 2,000 hours collectively, contributing to important services and business processes while benefiting each student’s education.

The Club Pierce program at the Lakewood Community Center and the Meridian Habitat Community Center was held during the school year. This program helps participants enhance their socialization with peers and community members and increases their independence.

Over 400 participants were supported by specialized programming in 2018.

PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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Financial Highlights Half of the department’s financial resources are associated with operating the park system, of which Chambers Creek Regional Park makes up the largest single line of business. Spanaway Regional Park is a close second, with combined General Fund and golf course resources of close to $7 million. These sites also generate the most revenue to offset operating costs.

This report details how operating funds and capital funding is spent and the return on investment for our community. Parks Sales Tax, Path and Trails Fund, General Fund and Conservation Futures Operating Funds are leveraged to maintain and operate the other properties in the park system beyond the two regional park sites.

The Conservation Futures Program funds acquisition and preservation of natural lands for public benefit and a majority of funding is distributed though a grant program.

The Construction Revenue Funds are transferred into the Construction and Acquisition Project funds when the projects are ready to commence. Approximately 30% of the department’s funding is associated with projects to preserve or improve the park system.

The projects are prioritized and scheduled in the department’s adopted Capital Improvement Program.

The budget allocated the department with $53 million for planned expenditures. A total of $50 million was spent - $9 million in transferred revenues and $41 million in direct spending as described in the General Fund*, Paths & Trails*, and Parks Sales Tax* in the chart. Seven million dollars in capital project funding is being carried forward from 2018 into 2019 for project completion.

Parks Funds Fund

2018 Amount

*General Fund

$7,949,615

Ft. Steilacoom & Lake Spanaway Golf Courses

$2,085,884

*Paths & Trails Chambers Creek Regional Park & Golf Course Pierce County Fair

$574,236 $9,672,105 $254,020

*Parks Sales Tax

$3,687,079

Operating Funds

$24,373,641

Conservation Futures

$5,879,109

Conservation Futures

$5,879,109

Parks Impact Fees

$2,678,977

Parks Second REET

$2,503,833

Construction Revenue

$5,182,860

Paths & Trails Construction

$308,016

Parks Construction

$3,810,785

Conservation Futures Acquisition

$1,722,718

Construction Project Funds

$5,841,519

TOTAL PARKS FUNDING

$41,126,377

On average, park and recreation agencies derive three-fifths of their operating expenditures from General Fund tax support.

Pierce County Parks’ combined tax funding from General Fund, Path and Trails Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax and Park Sales Tax provide 41% of the departments operational resources.

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| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

The general fund allocation to the Department is $5,771,410. The department raises $2,517,300 in revenue, primarily through Recreation services fees, to cover costs of service provision to the community. This is done through fees and charges, primarily rental rates, and alternative funding strategies.

General Fund Total Expenditures - $8,228,710 Administration - $1,491,700 (Resource Stewardship & Department Leadership)

Recreation - $2,676,910

Parks Alternative Funds

18% 50%

33%

2017

2018

Program Grants

$34,117

$18,300

Advertising & Sponsorships

$44,550

$45,450

Partnered Contributions

$338,046

$336,282

In-Kind Donations

$280,978

$275,615

Volunteer Service Value

$181,209

$275,615

TOTAL ALTERNATIVE FUNDING

$878,960

$835,997

Parks Maintenance and Operations $4,120,100

Regional Parks

2018

Chambers Creek Regional Park Expenses

$8,617,430

Revenue

$5,756,912

Cost Recovery

67 %

Spanaway Regional Park Expenses

$5,605,388

Revenue

$3,017,848

Cost Recovery

54 %

Department Staff Pierce County Parks and Recreation maintains, programs and operates all of the park/facility sites with the following 76 employees: 9

ADMINISTRATION DIVISION

5

RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP DIVISION

37

PARKS DIVISION

25

RECREATION DIVISION

PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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Park Performance Miles

Cost Per Mile

Cost Recovery (CR) Target

Actual CR

21

$15,090

0-25%

14%

Acres

Cost Per Acre

CR Target

Actual CR

340.5

$17,295

100%

78%

26,784 rounds (closed Oct-Dec)

185

$6,835

25-50%

15%

541,072 event, program and trail counts

North Lake Tapps

135.2

$2,334

25-50%

36%

82,240 park visitors

Lake Spanaway Golf Course

128.8

$13,524

100%

84%

37,923 rounds

Spanaway Park

88.9

$12,647

25-50%

44%

455,237 park visitors and Fantasy Lights admissions

Heritage Recreation Center, South Hill Community Park and Nathan Chapman Trail

88.1

$6,021

25-50%

61%

256,422 sports, trail and scheduled activities; Cost share with Puyallup School District

Ashford Park

84

$436

0-25%

14%

43,800 park visitors

Frontier Park and Lodge

71

$10,478

25-50%

58%

189,460 Fair, program and event visitors Maintained as an extension of Spanaway Park, requiring travel; $545,459 costs in 2018; community and partner sport use at Gonyea.

Park Site

Foothills National Recreation Trail

Chambers Bay Golf Course Chambers Creek Regional Park and Canyon

Service

268,280 event and trail counts Counts

Local Parks, Playfields and Habitat (Dawson, Gonyea, Lidford, Mayfair, Parkland Prairie, Swan Creek)

36.8

$14,822

0-25%

0%

Center-Based Site

Sq. Ft.

Cost Per Sq. Ft.

CR Target

Actual CR

Meridian Habitat Park & Center - 36 acres

15,509

$23

25-50%

23%

90,537 event, program, and park visitors

Sprinker Recreation Center (with 44.1-acre sports complex and 65.9 Bresemann Forest)

74,100

$33

25-50%

41%

249,808 event, ice, hockey, sports, and park visitors

Lakewood Community Center (with 46-acre Seeley Lake)

34,000

$18

25-50%

36%

120,215 for classes, programs and events

Average Cost Per Developed Acre

$8,958

Average Acres per Maintenance FTE System-wide Cost Recovery 21

| PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

74 39%

Service Level

Program & Event Participants

982,407

Park & Trail Users

1,326,000

Total Users

2,308,407

2018 In Review Pierce County Parks and Recreation Services inventory includes 44 sites on 5,271 acres of parkland.

TOTAL ACRES

1,058 Regional Parks 373 Developed County Parks 430 Undeveloped County Parks 110 Local Parks 186 Special Use Facilities 2,550 Resource Conservancy Parks 549 Linear Parks & Trails 14

Unclassified Sites/Cemeteries

$41,126,377

1.326 Million

Total Parks Funding

Trail and Park Users

982,407

10,690

Recreation Program Participants

Park Volunteer Hours

64,707

193,756 People visited Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park

Customer Support

Total rounds of golf

2,175

27,247

Chambers Bay Golf Course and Lake Spanaway Golf Course

Facility Reservations

Telephone Calls

PIERCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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9112 Lakewood DR. SW Lakewood, WA 98499 253-798-4199 pcparks@piercecountywa.gov www.piercecountywa.gov/parks