A beach pavilion, whale sculpture play area, parking, easier water access, safer entry/exits and climate-resilient design will all be unveiled at reopening celebration of popular Tacoma beach.
Tacoma, WA: Tacoma’s most popular beach is back! Smooth oval benches echoing the shape of the canoes that have graced this sand since time immemorial. A climbable whale sculpture. A sparkling pavilion sheltering community gatherings and science classes alike. Oh, and plenty of parking, too. After 16 months of extensive, bond-funded renovations, Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park will reopen with new facilities, road and trail entry/exit, and climate-resilient design with a public celebration 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, June 4.
The $6.3 million renovations, including a new entry/exit that offers separate and safe passage for vehicles and non-motorized traffic, are part of the 2015 Destination Point Defiance master plan. They are funded by $2.3 million in City of Tacoma voter-approved 2014 bonds, $700,000 in MPT operating funds, $2.25 million in Washington state RCO funds, and $1.05 million from Tacoma Public Schools to support the shared pavilion.
“Owen Beach has always been a place where people come to connect with the forest, the water
, and each other,” said Park Board President Andrea Smith. “We are so happy that, thanks to
Tacoma voters, it can serve the community again as that place, but now even more accessible,
safe, and fun for all.”
The opening celebration on June 4 will include light refreshments, kayak rentals, pavilion tours, and ribbon-cutting at 11:30 a.m. The event also marks the kick-off of the Tacoma Trails Challenge, with on-site signups and swag bags. Among the new features to be unveiled Saturday:
A new, two-way entry-exit road for vehicles, with safer sightlines at the intersection with
Five Mile Drive
Conversion of the old entry road to a safe trail for pedestrians, bicycles and other non-
motorized transport
New, bigger parking lot with ADA-accessible drop-off zones close to the water
New restrooms and water-view benches, including large, canoe-shaped table-top benches
A brand-new beach pavilion shared with Science and Math Institute marine science classes and seasonal food concessions, all available for rentals
New ADA-accessible children’s play area, with sea-blue surface, wide slide and interactive nature sculptures, like a stick fort and a whale that can be climbed inside, decorated with the Japanese wood-charring technique shou sugi ban
Lush new lawn, ADA-accessible plaza and pathways
New kayak launch slope, with former bathhouse building converted to kayak rental andstorage
Native plantings amid driftwood for beautifying and mitigation
Improved support infrastructure including utilities (water line, fiber optic cables, stormand sanitary sewer) and drainage
Renovated existing WPA picnic shelter
Removal of existing concrete, installation of new gravel
New signage illustrating the long history of Owen Beach as cultural meeting point forIndigenous tribes on Canoe Journey
“These renovations have truly transformed Owen Beach into a destination for everyone,” said Joe Brady, deputy director of regional parks and attractions. “We are proud to have made such crucial practical and aesthetic improvements while protecting the forest habitat that makes Point Defiance so unique among American cities.” Underscoring the beach’s new elements is a design giving resilience to the sea-level rise predicted to come with increasing climate change in future decades. All facilities, including the picnic lawn, pathways and parking, were set back and uphill to allow for a rise in water levels in Puget Sound: The promenade, popular with families, runners and dog-walkers alike, was moved 18 feet inland, while the lawn was moved 34 feet inland, and the parking lot 57 feet. By 2090, the net sea level rise is estimated to increase by over six feet, according to projections from the Washington Coast Resiliency Project. That includes a 3.6 feet FEMA flood storm surge increase, and a 2.5 feet sea level rise increase with 20% probability.
Originally established by Metro Parks in 1957, Owen Beach makes up 1,000 feet of Point Defiance Park’s three miles of shoreline, making it a popular spot for beach-goers. The park itself, at 760 acres, is the second-largest urban park in the continental United States, home to thick forest, trails, gardens and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. “Most of the facilities at Owen Beach were originally developed a half-century ago,” said Marty Stump, deputy director of planning and development. “We have a responsibility as stewards of this gem within Point Defiance Park to ensure that generations to come are able to enjoy its peace and beauty, just as much as those who built it and those who have come since time immemorial. Adapting to climate change is crucial, and Metro Parks is proud that we can do this on behalf of our community.”
For more information on Owen Beach renovations, see metroparkstacoma.org/owen-beach-
improvements.
