Ruston Way

Location
Ruston Way

What's Planned for Your Park
Matching funds for Promenade extension through Asarco site to Point Defiance and reconstruction of Old Town Dock, rip-rap restoration, new irrigation systems,new site lighting and furnishings, upgrade of site utilities, restroom and concession renovations.

Budget
The Parks Improvement Bond Measure, approved by the citizens of Tacoma in November of 2005, provides $5,500,000 for this project.

Project Status
11/20/09 Last week COT provided an updated cost estimate of $16,335,799.20 in present day dollars which reflects the 20 year maintenance and repair backlog for Ruston Way park lands. The fireboat will remain in COT ownership. There is a $1M allocation for its repair. Art elements identified as belonging to COT will remain in their ownership. In addition, COT and MPT need to agree on the geographic extent of the transfer. MPT won't take possession of street rights of way. In those cases, a Street Occupancy Permit has been suggested. A map of specific sites to be transferred remains to be created. The Chinese Reconciliation Garden will remain in City ownership. The park areas around the exdisting fire station and firemen's memorial will remain in COT ownership. There is some questions reqarding the ownership and maintenance requirements associated with riprap shorelines at private piers such as Katie Downs. Some of these locations are on public right of way. Some are covered by agreements with the property owners but some may not be.
10/27/09 The City's architect has prepared an estimate of the capital costs required to extend service life of all Ruston Way assets for at least 20 years. MPT is reviewing those estimates to determine if we are in agreement. Some areas need more investigation. Tree replacement and plant bed restorations may not have been adequately captured. There are concerns regarding whether we have adequately captured the full scope and cost of seawall/riprap repairs. Repairs to Old Town Dock need to take into account replacement of floats and transition ramp elements. Proposed revisions to the Shoreline land use code could require planting of native plants in the future as a condition of any new development. Staff has been discussing this with COT's planning team. There is also a list of interpretive graphics, art and cultural artifact items that need to be taken into consideration. We will share our list of concerns with COT and arrange for some additional site meetings to focus primarily on landscape and shoreline considerations.
10/16/09 Staff is working with an architect from COT on preparing an estimate of capital needs to support a plan for transition of Ruston Way park properties from the city to Metro Parks. Starting with the capital inventory prepared by MPT in 2007, the new assessment focuses on repair/replacement cost of existing assets only to extend service life for another 20 years. A detailed assessment of the seawall condition needs to be made and what the effect would be of the city's shoreline ordinance in making repairs. We also need input from the police for lighting, etc. Art, artifacts, interpretive graphics and memorials are currently in various states of deterioration. Ownership and maintenance requirements for these items is not certain at this point. The fireboat belongs to the city and was to be the maintenance responsibility of an independent non-profit group. Future maintenance needs to be addressed because the boat is deteriorating and there will be significant cost associated with restoring it.
12/07/07 An inventory of capital needs was completed in July of 2007. No subsequent action has been taken. A proposal to expend $250,850 in cooperation with COT for development of a dock transition ramp at Thea's Park will be presented to the Park Board on 12/10/07.
10/05/07 Initial inventory work was completed by MPT and COT staff. The project has been on 'hold' since August 2007.
07/20/07 Initial inventory work is being done with MPT and COT staff. A planning proposal and scope definition are being prepared.
10/17/06 We are considering postponing work on Ruston Way until a more comprehensive plan of improvements can be coordinated with the City of Tacoma. The roof was replaced on the building at Les Davis Pier, but not with bond funds.

This project is being funded in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 & 2013 and is anticipated to be completed in 2013.

Schedule
• Planning - June 1, 2008
• Design -
• Construction -
• Completion -

Community & Board Participation

Last Updated: Feb 18, 2010 10:24 AM