Wapato Hills Walking Path:

• It is approximately one-quarter mile around this park.

• Limited public parking available. Visitors who park in "permit required" street parking are advised that they may be ticketed by the City of Tacoma. Citizens can continue to contact 253-591-5500 or jkammerzell@cityoftacoma.org to request a no-fee parking permit that is valid for parking along the east side of Wapato Street (abutting the park).

PARK IMPROVEMENTS:

• 2013 - Vegetation Management, Habitat Management, Environment Management, Active Use/Recreation-Future Usage, Safety Planning - To preserve and improve this space for safe recreation and enjoyment of nature and natural habitat in South Tacoma. This is a City of Tacoma and Metro Parks Tacoma Partnership. MPT will coordinate and implement the public process and planning design to review and potentially amend the 1996 Conceptual Master Plan, while COT & MPT will carry out the implementation of that design. Public meetings will take place in April (04/23/13) & June (06/05/13) 2013. Work is being funded by the Parks Improvement Bond Measure, approved by the citizens of Tacoma in November of 2005 ($190,000) and City of Tacoma ($8,840).
• Design: Bruce Dees & Associates
• Project Manager: Kristi Evans, 253-305-1054
• Project Status 04/26/13: View notes from the 04/24/13 public meeting. Additional public comments on the 1996 Master Plan will be accepted until May 10 to kristie@tacomaparks.com.
• 1996 Conceptual Master Plan - Elements (text) / Neighborhood Park (graphic) / Trail System (graphic) / Big 80 Acres 

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK ON PARK IMPROVEMENTS

• View notes from the 04/24/13 public meeting. Additional public comments on the 1996 Master Plan will be accepted until May 10 to kristie@tacomaparks.com.

HISTORY:
Park Established: 1994
Park land acres: 14.22

The property was purchased in 1919 as a future reservoir site, however in 1968 it was declared as surplus property. Options for the area that were discussed after that included convention center, auto shopping mall, private school or sports center. In 1978 the Tahoma Audubon Society recommended the area be considered open space and preserved. In 1994 the Wapato Task Force was set up and suggested to the City of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Utility and Metro Parks Tacoma that the 80 acre area be divided into two sections with Metro Parks Tacoma developing 10 acres of the territory into a neighborhood park and the other 70 acres being preserved as open nature space.

A new playfield was dedicated September 15, 2002 to Skip and Laura Vaughn. Vaughn led a six-year fight to raise $5.6 million to purchase the land and worked tirelessly to help develop the four-acre playfield which features a combination soccer/softball field with backstop, restrooms, basketball court, spray plaza, walking trail and an extensive playground. The site is also home to the Tacoma Power Memorial to fallen linemen.