More Information

Location

2323 N Shirley St. / N 26th & N Shirley

What's Planned for Your Park

Develop Master Plan and begin implementation to include irrigation upgrades, court resurfacing, plus improvements to be determined. / An aquatic facility and associated support structures has been added as the result of North/West/Central Pool planning.
 

Budget

The Parks Improvement Bond Measure, approved by the citizens of Tacoma in November of 2005, provides $450,000 for this project. / and $5,733,000 for North/West/Central Pool.

Maintenance & Operations Impact Forecast - Regular scheduled maintenance is expected to increase as some new irrigation is added to the park. Trash pick-up and general site monitoring for graffiti and vandalism repair is expected to increase. Net operating expense for the pool is expected to be $200,000/year (based on costs associated with Stewart Hieghts Pool).

Project Status

10/21/09 Schematic design of pool and park improvements is proceeding.
09/28/09


The Kandle Park & Pool Master Plan was approved by the Board of Park Commissioners on September 28, 2009. 
09/11/09 A Kandle steering committee meeting was held last night and a final selected site plan was reviewed and approved. The pool configuration shown in the plan goes far beyond what can be constructed with the current bond funds. The part that appears possible at present is the zero depth entry adn 25 yard lane swimming. The plan also shows a restroom building that could be combined with the sprayground feature that is unlikely to be built during the initial phase of the project. Until then a portable toilet may be provided. The community garden will remain the same size but has other enhancements. Representatives fo the skate community approve of the skate dot approach over a concentrated skate park. The option exists to provide a fence between the spray pool and sprayground that would allow MPT to divide the free sprayground from the paid area that is part of the pool. The community continues to strongly advocate improved turf areas and irrigation for this site. The project will be presented to the Park Board for formal adoption on September 28.
09/03/09 Public Meeting #5 will be held at 6 pm on September 24, 2009 at Downing Elementary School, 2502 N. Orchard St. Come review and comment on the DRAFT Master Plan for Kandle Park & Pool. View DRAFT Master Plan for Kandle Park & Pool. (09/22/09) This is a DRAFT and will continue to evolve throughout the month in response to public input. The Final Plan will be presented at the public meeting on September 24 (view meeting flyer) and to the MPT Board on September 28. Let us know what you like and dislike about this DRAFT Master Plan. Click here to take survey
 
08/28/09 Two alternative site plans are under consideration. In Alternate A parking is located along N 26th Street and the existing tennis courts are retained in the center of the site. In Alternate B parking surrounds the B&G Club building and serves the Club and School as well as the park. A new sprayground/playground complements the pool at the center of  the site. A design charette was held at the Boys & Girls Club last week with two groups of kids: 6-9 year olds and 10-12 year olds. The kids were able to cut and paste or draw their own version of what the park should like. On August 26 staff went to the Downing Elementary open house and handed out approx. 80 Kandle Park Alternate A & B surveys. A public meeting was held August 27 and more surveys were handed out. We are hoping to get approx. 100 back from the community. So far, it appears the majority prefer the concept of skate dots over a specific skate park location; the oval shaped unprogrammed space at the southwest corner of the park in Alternate A; parking and access described in Alternate B to help with traffic and student drop-off at Downing; and proposed pool amenities like zero entry, lazy river, lap lanes and spray features (current budget only alllows for a limited pool development in the first phase). The tennis courts will most likely be removed. There remains some significant issues concerning off-site mitigation that may be required by COT like significant re-construction of the street at North 26th.
08/14/09 The next public meeting is Thurs., August 27, 2009 at 6 pm at Downing Elementary (2502 N Orchard St.)  View Flyer / View two alternative designs for Kandle Park & Pool and then let us know what you like and dislike about each of them.  Click here to take survey 
07/31/09 Public meeting was held last night. Those in attendance liked the idea of MPT fields being green space used for informal activities with no scheduled games. The idea of skate dots thru the park was considered preferable to a concentrated skate park element. Parking expanded behind the Boys & Girls Club as shown in Alternative 2 was preferred to help serve the school during the school year and help alleviate their problem ofnot having a good drop off/pick up zone for students. There is likely to be significant curb, gutter and storm drain work since storm water management is an issue. If a summer playground program is instituted at Kandle, the participants will need to have access to a water feature that is not part of the paid pool venue. The next public meeting is scheduled for August 27 and will focus on just two plans. The master plan is proposed to go to the Park Board on Sept. 28.
07/17/09 Master planning work is proceeding with an anticipated presentation to the Park Board on 09/28/09. View three alternative designs for Kandle Park & Pool and then let us know what you like and dislike about each of them. Click here to take survey 
07/10/09 Five separate site plan options are under consideration and were reviewed by the Steering Committee on July 9. These options are to be narrowed to one by the July 30 public meeting. It seems likely that the community garden will remain at the current size. Interest in the pool appears to be growing. There is a desire for general irrigated green open space and courts for basketball. The name of the park needs to be George B. Kandle Park.
06/05/09 The A&E team has been retained and the first public meeting was held on 05/24/09.
04/10/09 A&E fees are being negotiated with the selected architect team.
03/06/09 Consultant selection process is underway.
01/23/09 The first focus is on a master plan for the site and pool. Public involvement will be managed through a Steering Committee. Traffic and parking may be the largest impacts needing to be addressed. Planning and design is expected to take all of 2009. Construction will begin in May/June 2010 with the pool opening in the summer of 2011.
11/10/08 The Board of Park Commissioners directed staff to begin the Master Planning processes for Titlow Park without a pool and for Kandle Park with an Aquatics Facility. Click here to read the entire pool resolution.
06/08/07 We will not proceed until we know what will happen with the swimming pool site selection.

Schedule

• Planning - January 2009
• Design consultant scope, selection & contract - March 2009
  SHKS Architects
• Design development - September 2009
• Construction documents - December 2009
one general contractor will be selected through standard MPT Public Works bidding procedures. That contractor will perform all construction on the project.
• Construction bidding & contract - July 2010
• Substantial Completion - June 2011

Community & Board Participation

• Steering Committee to be formed - at minimum the following will be invited to participate: West End, North End and Central Neighborhood Councils, Sport & Aquatics Advisory Council, Boys and Girls Club, Tacoma School District, Nortac Soccer, Titlow Pool users/Swim Club/swimmers, MPT staff (sports/aquatics program staff, parks maintenance), neighbors of the park, general public, current park users - community garden, dog walkers.
• 50 Meter Pool Task-Force Information  
• Upcoming Community Meetings  - a minimum of three public meetings/workshops will be held during the master planning process and a minimum of three public meetings/workshops will be held during the design phase of the construction project. 
• Completed Public Meetings
  - Public Meeting #5 - September 24, 2009 View Flyer
  - Public Meeting #4 - August 27, 2009 View Flyer
  - Public Meeting #3 - July 30, 2009 View Flyer
  - Public Meeting #2 - June 25, 2009 View Flyer 
  - Public Meeting #1 - May 28, 2009 View Flyer   
• Board Meetings & Resolutions
  Board Meeting
  - February 23, 2009 / Board Meeting
  Three pool resolutions were on the agenda:
  - Resolution R-13-09 would direct staff to begin the master planning process for Kandle Park with a recreational pool.
  - Resolution R-14-09 would direct staff to provide $125,000 in drain system upgrades to Titlow Pool to bring it into compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act to allow operation this summer.
  - Resolution R-15-09 calls for the creation of a task force to explore opportunities for development of a 50 meter pool in the South Sound area. The resolution directs that the task force complete its work and present a strategy by October 1, 2009 to the Board of Park Commissioners advising how the pool could be built and funded.
  - Relative to discussions about the North/West/Central Pool, the Board of Park Commissioners discussed as part of their Committee of the Whole work session on Feb. 17, 2009:
  • Kandle Park - Aquatic Facility
  • Titlow Pool Repair - Required costs for continued short-term operation 
  • Stewart Heights Park - Cost estimates for consideration of a 50 meter pool
  Board Capital Improvement Committee
  Find out more about the Board of Park Commissioners.
• Events
  Opening Ceremony - TBA 
• Metro Parks' Public Participation Policy.
• Send us your comments about this project.
  
  

Last Updated: Nov 4, 2009 9:55 AM