Report a Non-Emergency Park Concern (Community Action Request)

Report a Homeless Encampment

Requests for Information

Emergency: Dial 911
Non-Emergency Tacoma Police Dept. (253) 798-4721

Metro Parks Tacoma

Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer
Hunter George
(253) 305-1065

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Marketing & Communications Manager
WhitneyDalBalcon
(253) 404-3637

Executive Director
Shon Sylvia
(253) 305-1072
Appointed by the Board of Park Commissioners, Shon leads the park district’s employees and guides the administration of programs and services.
Shon’s Bio

Deputy Executive Director
Peter Mayer
(253) 305-1091
As assistant executive director, Peter Mayer oversees business operations for Metro Parks Tacoma.
Peter’s Bio

Parks & Recreation Director
Marina Becker 
(253) 305-1024 
Marina leads the department responsible for asset repair and maintenance, horticulture and landscape services, facility services and fleet management.
Marina’s Bio

Parks & Recreation Deputy Director
Dave Lewis 
(253) 305-1067
Dave leads the department responsible for providing programs in youth development, active older adults, specialized & adaptive recreation, sports, fitness, art and aquatics.
Dave’s Bio

Zoological & Environmental Education Director
Alan Varsik
(253) 404-3631
Alan leads Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
Alan’s Bio

Planning Director
Debbie Terwilleger
(253) 305-1086
Debbie leads the department responsible for long-range planning, capital development, and management of historic and cultural resources for the Metro Park’s system.
Debbie’s Bio

Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer
Hunter George
(253) 305-1065
The Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer is responsible for internal and external messaging and communication strategy for the current visitor and customer, stakeholders, partners and community at-large.
Hunter’s Bio

Chief Strategy Officer
Joe Brady
(253) 305-1014
The District’s Chief Strategy Officer oversees Information Technology, GIS and Data Analytics programs.
Joe’s Bio

Chief Marketing & Development Officer
Sandra Eliason
(253) 305-1016
Sandra provides leadership and strategy for marketing and advertising, sales and corporate relations, major gifts and advancement, and research and grant management.
Sandra’s Bio

Chief Financial Officer
Erwin Vidallon
(253) 305-1042
Erwin provides oversight of all finance and accounting functions, budgeting, contract compliance, risk management and IT.
Erwin’s Bio

Chief Administrative Officer
Paul Weed
(253) 404-3949
Paul provides oversight of all human resources, organizational development, GIS and data analytics.
Paul’s Bio

Facebook

• Adaptive Recreation
• Center at Norpoint
• CHIP-in Citizens Helping Improve Parks
• Eastside Community Center
• Escape Fort Nisqually
• Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
• Kandle Pool
• Meadow Park Golf Course
• Metro Arts – Tacoma
• Metro Parks Tacoma
• Metro Parks Tacoma Sports
• Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
• Outdoor Adventures
• People’s Community Center
• Point Defiance Marina
• Point Defiance Park
• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
• Portland Avenue Community Center
• Ruston Way Waterfront
• Specialized Recreation
• STAR Center
• Stewart Heights Pool
• Tacoma Nature Center
• W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory
• Wright Park

Twitter

• Metro Parks Tacoma
• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
• Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
• Fort Nisqually
• Meadow Park Golf Course

Instagram

• Metro Parks Tacoma
• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
• Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
• Fort Nisqually
• W.W. Seymour Conservatory

YouTube

• Metro Parks Tacoma
• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
• Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
• STAR Center
• Meadow Park Golf Course

LinkedIn

• Metro Parks Tacoma

Flickr

• Metro Parks Tacoma

Pinterest

• Metro Parks Tacoma
• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
• Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Please read our Privacy and Commenting policy

Parks and Recreation

• Parks and Recreation Director – Marina Becker (253) 305-1097
• Parks and Recreation Deputy Director – Dave Lewis (253) 305-1067
• Boathouse Marina (253) 404-3960
• Building Repair & Maintenance (253) 591-5327
• Conduct in Parks
• Fort Nisqually Living History Museum (253) 404-3970
• Meadow Park Golf Course (253) 473-3033
• The Tacoma Nature Center (253) 404-3930
• W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory  (253) 404-3975
• Accommodation Information (253) 404-3950
• Adaptive Recreation (253) 404-3955
• Athletics & Fields (253) 305-1015
• Class Registration & Information (253) 305-1030
• Community Centers
  • Eastside Community Center (253) 404-3990
  • Center at Norpoint (253) 404-3900
  • People’s Community Center (253) 404-3915
  • STAR Center (253) 404-3939
• Facility Rentals (253) 305-1030
• Reserve a picnic shelter
• (253) 305-1030
• General Information
• (253) 305-1030
• Rainout Information (253) 305-1075
• Refunds Information (253) 305-1022
• Specialized Recreation (253) 404-3950
• Sports & Fields (253) 305-1015
• Swim Lessons & Pools
  • Eastside Community Center Pool (253) 404-3990
  • Norpoint Pool (253) 404-3910
  • People’s Pool (253) 404-3915
  • Stewart Heights Pool (253) 404-3925
  • Kandle Pool (253) 404-3920
  • Swim Lessons (253) 404-3922

Zoological and Environmental Educations

• Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
  • General Information (360) 832-6117
  • Classes, Camps, Program Memberships (360) 832-6117 x166
  • Membership (360) 832-6117 x170
  • Rentals, Picnics, Meetings (360) 832-6117 x166
• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
  • General Information (253) 404-3800
  • Classes, Camps, Programs (253) 404-3800
  • Membership (253) 404-3635
  • Zoo Society/Donations (253) 404-3651
  • Rentals, Picnic, Meetings (253) 404-3823
• Director of Zoological & Environmental Education – Alan Varsik (253) 404-3631

Planning and Development

• General Information (253) 305–1032
• Director of Planning – Deborah Terwilleger (253) 305-1086

Business and Innovation

• Executive Director – Shon Sylvia (253) 305-1072
• Deputy Executive Director – Peter Mayer (253) 305-1091
• Board of Park Commissioners (253) 305-1091
  • Jessie K. Baines Jr.
  • Erik Hanberg
  • Aaron Pointer
  • Tim Reid
  • Andrea Smith
• Chief Finance Officer – Erwin Vidallon (253) 305-1081
• Chief Administrative Officer – Paul Weed (253) 404-3949
• Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer – Hunter George (253) 305-1065
• Chief Marketing & Development Officer – Sandra Elliason (253) 305-1016
• Accessibility (253) 305-1068
• Resources Development (253) 305-1071
• Donations, Memorials (253) 305-1071
• Finance & IT Services Fax (253) 305-1049
  • Accounts Payable (253) 305-1058
  • Accounts Receivable (253) 305-1044
• Communications & Public Affairs (253) 305-1092
• Organizational Development & Human Resources (253) 305-1089
• Business Intelligence
  • GIS Requests (253) 305-1076
  • Data Analytics Requests (253) 305-1041

Other Helpful Numbers

• City of Tacoma
• Conduct in Parks
• Dogs
  • Animal Care & Control (253) 627-7387
  • Human Society (253) 383-2733
• Marine Mammals
  • NOAA Marine Mammal Hotline (800) 853-1964

Wild Animals

• WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (360) 249-4628
• PAWS Wildlife Center (Lynnwood, WA) (425) 787-2500 x817
• The Sarvey Wildlife Center (Arlington, WA) (360) 435-4817
• South Sound Critter Care (Kent, WA – open 365 days) (360) 886-8917
• For Heaven’s Sake (Rochester, WA) (360) 273-0550
• West Sound Wildlife Shelter (Bainbridge, WA) (206) 855-9057

Metro Parks Tacoma strives toward providing inclusive programs to all community members. People of all abilities are invited to consider registering for any recreational program Metro Parks Tacoma has to offer provided they meet the minimum eligibility requirements. We can usually build customized support to suit your needs.

To request an accommodation please allow 10 business days prior to the start of the course. You may request via email, mail or phone:

Email: Send accommodation request to inclusion@tacomaparks.com
Mail: Send the Accommodation Request Form to 4702 S. 19th, Tacoma WA 98405.
Phone: 253-404-3950 / TTY (253)759-9286.
This number is for accommodation information only

For general inquiries and information please call 253-305-1022 / TTY (253)759-9286.

Metro Parks staff are available to speak to civic, school, business and other groups about a variety of topics.

If you’d like your organization to hear more in person about:

• District capital projects
• Park management
• Horticulture
• Recreation programs
• Volunteer opportunities
• …or another topic

Please contact Chief Public Affairs Officer Hunter George.

Complete a Request for Public Record Form

The form can be submitted by:

• Fax: (253) 759-9286
• Mail: Attn: Jennifer Bowman, Metro Parks Tacoma, 4702 S. 19th St., Tacoma WA 98405
• Email: jenniferb@tacomaparks.com

Request for Public Records Policy

Questions
Contact Jennifer Bowman: (253) 305-1091

Metro Parks Tacoma is committed to the timely correction of incidents and conditions that interfere with the park and recreation experience.

Report maintenance problems such as broken playground equipment, non-urgent safety issues, concerns about a Metro Parks staff member or recurring unsafe misuse of parks and community centers.

Metro Parks strives to provide an initial response to all inquiries within 2 business days.

Emergency communications relative to matters of public health or safety are administered by the District’s Communications Manager on a priority basis. Information of this nature is disseminated through a variety of internal and external communication vehicles including, media releases, the District’s website, social media, email and other means as warranted, such as onsite signage, posters or reader board notification.

Financial Assistance

Metro Parks Tacoma offers a financial assistance program due to generous support from the Greater Metro Parks Foundation. If cost is a potential barrier to participation, City of Tacoma residents may request financial assistance for most scheduled fee-based classes, camps or programs with individual charges.

More information can be found on page 2 of the Financial Assistance Form. Please allow at least two weeks in advance of any activity:

• Financial Assistance Form 2019
• Financial Assistance Form – Spanish
• Financial Assistance Form – Russian

Refunds

All Metro Parks Tacoma programs come with a satisfaction guarantee. Refund requests must be made in writing. After the start of the class/activity, refunds may be granted on a pro-rated basis when requested prior to the last day of the class/activity. (See exception regarding teams/leagues below).

Metro Parks Tacoma may apply and communicate special refund conditions for activities, which may result in the customer receiving a refund of less than the amount paid. If special refund conditions apply, they will be noted on your receipt. No refunds will be given for missed classes. For questions about refunds please call (253) 305-1030.

Teams/Leagues

No refunds may be granted to participants after the season’s schedule has been created.

Canceled Programs

When an activity is cancelled by Metro Parks, registrants will receive a full refund or credit.