TACOMA, Wash. — Owen Beach in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park reopened Saturday after 16 months of extensive renovations.
Metro Parks Tacoma celebrated the beach’s reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of a brand-new beach pavilion.
Other new features at the beach include a new entry-exit road for vehicles, improved parking and an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible children’s play area.
“These renovations have truly transformed Owen Beach into a destination for everyone,” said Joe Brady, deputy director of regional parks and attractions. “We are proud to have made such crucial practical and aesthetic improvements while protecting the forest habitat that makes Point Defiance so unique among American cities.”
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As part of the $6.3 million bond-funded renovations, the beach’s facilities were set back and uphill to allow for a rise in water levels in Puget Sound.
“Most of the facilities at Owen Beach were originally developed a half-century ago,” said Marty Stump, deputy director of planning and development. “Adapting to climate change is crucial, and Metro Parks is proud that we can do this on behalf of our community.”
The opening celebration also marked the beginning of the Tacoma Trails Challenge, a two-week event for the public to explore the city’s parks and trails following National Trails Day.
For more information and to register for the event, visit the Metro Parks Tacoma website.
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