The shoreline of Commencement Bay in Tacoma is dotted with public parks. People there can stroll, picnic and take in the sights of seals, seagulls and every once in a while, orcas.
These parks, and many others around Grit City, could get upgrades if voters in the Parks Tacoma district support a bond measure this April.
Parks Tacoma is asking voters to support Proposition 1, a $155 million package to fund over 100 projects in 40 different locations over six years.
City council in favor of the bond
At their Tuesday meeting, city council members offered support for the bond.
“ I really hope the community as well sees the benefit and pushes this forward,” said council member Latasha Palmer. “An investment in our parks is an investment in our public safety.”
If the bond passes, it won’t raise taxes but will keep property tax rates for parks the same as they are now.
“With all the economic uncertainty and looking at gas prices and spending time in a grocery store, there's not a lot of disposable income to be increasing taxes,” said Terry Jungman, the city’s capital improvement program manager, in a presentation to the council. “It was really important that we put a package out that is thoughtful and considerate of where people are right now.”
According to Parks Tacoma, property owners would continue to be taxed $0.45 per $1,000 in assessed home value if the bond passes. For a home that’s worth $500,000, that’s $225 per year.
Tacomans are already paying that tax rate for prior bonds, which Parks Tacoma estimates will be paid off by 2043. If voters don’t support this new bond, they will continue to be taxed, but that rate would decline as the debt is paid off.
The council unanimously voted in favor of a resolution supporting the proposition.
Aiming for equity in park access across the city
The projects in this bond package are meant to spread park improvements around the city, connecting people more with the parks close to where they live.
“We heard very clearly through the community that there's a desire to see a more local investment, something close to home in their neighborhoods, their community parks, their community centers,” Jungman said.
Projects include a complete remodel of the People’s Community Center in Hilltop, improving walkways and parking on the Ruston Way waterfront, adding playgrounds, sprayparks and bathrooms to parks around town and a potential community center in South Tacoma.
“ We will make investments in our signature parks, but also people want that close to home, 10-minute walk type of a park investment,” Yungman said.
Parks Tacoma considered the City of Tacoma Equity Index to make sure there are projects in neighborhoods that have fewer options for outdoor spaces.
Parks Tacoma Board President Matt Mauer said he is excited about improvements to the Peck Community Sports Park, a park close to his home. He said this bond would make that park a space even more people could enjoy.
“ You would pass that for months out of the year and it would just be empty because you couldn't really use it in its current form,” Mauer said.
The last time the parks district asked voters to support capital projects through a bond was in 2014. That bond passed and allowed Parks Tacoma to put artificial turf down on the field at Peck, making it more usable for other sports. Parks Tacoma also partnered with Stadium High School to have it become the team’s official baseball field.
The district has almost completed all projects funded by the 2014 bond program.
“ It’s just amazing to see it, even in its current form, being used so much more than it was before,” Mauer said.
Money from this bond would add more amenities to the park, including a playground and bathrooms.
“That's one I'm very excited to eventually walk to with my family and my son,” Mauer said.
The proposition can't help with Parks Tacoma’s ongoing budget challenges for operations. Last fall, the department laid off 14 staff members, while 10 employees agreed to voluntarily leave because the district is dealing with an operations budget shortfall. The bond money is for capital projects, which is different from the district’s funding for operations.
To pass, the bond will need support and voter turnout — general obligation bonds like this one require a 60% supermajority to pass. Plus, the voter turnout has to be 40% or more of the voters who cast a ballot in the last general election.
