This park was established in 1957.

PARK IMPROVEMENTS
2013-2015 - Dept. of Ecology Soil Remediation Program
Metro Parks is negotiating an inter-agency agreement with Ecology that generally covers the work to be accomplished and defines roles and responsibilities for each agency.
Project Status 11/09/12: Work will occur in the summer of 2015.
Project Manager: Department of Ecology (also paying for all of the work)
2009-2011 - New play equipment, basketball court, backstop, picnic table, bench, park sign, bollards and landscaping installed. Design consultant was Nature by Design and contractor was S&W Construction. Work was funded by the Parks Improvement Bond Measure, approved by the citizens of Tacoma in November of 2005.
Project Manager: Kristi Evans, (253) 305-1054
2010 - Contaminated Soil Testing was completed. Glen Rollins (Tacoma Pierce County Health Dept.) was responsible for testing for arsenic and lead associated with the Asarco Plume and Amy Hargrove (Dept. of Ecology) is in charge of the cleanup program. Optimist Park was identified as a low priority project. Levels are above cleanup standard, but not too high. May require a soil cap of 1 foot that will be scheduled later. Funding is included in the state budget.
Project Manager: Doug Fraser, (253) 305-1019