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Sun. June 10, 2007, 09:48am PDT
Point Defiance concept plan released
Looks like the folks over at MetroParks are thinking pretty big with some proposed plans for Point Defiance's future. Water taxis, view towers, and hotels -- oh my! Ideas flow from these very preliminary documents freely.
Improvements will be many with a focus on better pedestrian access balanced with improvements to the safety of 5-mile drive. There's the possibility of a couple cool view towers that will jut out from the park's bluffs and provide access to beaches below. I'm particularly interested in the idea of water taxis shuttling visitors to and from the park via Gig Harbor and downtown Tacoma. And I'm always a huge fan of getting the Ruston Way waterfront walkway connected to the park.
Sounds like plenty of public comment will be taken throughout this process and there's a survey online now to gather you impressions. Currently no dollar amounts are attached to any of this. Dreaming is free but the direction that come from is can be a great way to help guide the park toward some great things in the future.
Via Exit133 forums
Comments (2) | To Top
6/10/2007 @ 10:35am
The tower looks pretty cool and would enhance the park. There are other good ideas as well.
The last thing we need is for the trees to be mowed down for tourist amenities.
Tacomas and visitors like the park because of its green space. There is a real risk of the park being ruined by efforts to modernize it. If people want a hotel or theme park, they should go to motel 6 or Wild Waves.
by Erik B.
6/12/2007 @ 7:42pm
In the 1980's the council and park board had the option to acquire land (donated) around Salmon Beach and Point Defiance, making a grand walkway around the park similar to Stanley Park in Vancouver B.C. Answer at the time; "we don't want to maintain the land."
Good grief this is the vision our council and park board had in the 1980's. Forget the boat ramp for only a few, go for the grand view of walking around the park vs. through 5 mile drive with overgrown trees and shrubs that any risk manager would remove. University Place and the recent Chambers Golf Course is a grand idea. Four mile walk around the sound with a large path for walkings, runners and bikers. Guess what Tacomans, people use it and they don't have to drive to Ruston to walk along the sound. Way to go University Place. Tacoma take a lesson.
by Marco