Tacoma voters will decide this month on a $155 million bond measure that would fund more than 100 park projects across the city.
Ballots are scheduled to be mailed to residents on April 10 and must be returned by April 28.
A primary focus of the bond is revamping all parks, but one major project is the reconstruction of Dash Point Pier, a project estimated to cost at least $5.5 million.
The pier has been closed to the public since 2021 due to structural safety concerns.
The Dash Point Pier was a regional destination for fishing and nature viewing until 2021, when it was sealed off from the public.
An engineering inspection found that the pier was structurally not sound, prompting the city to seek a total rebuild.
Gino Rivera, a local restaurant owner, said the closure of the pier has had an impact on the neighborhood.
He says it’s been a bit less crowded in recent years, with fewer fishermen taking up parking, which has always been a concern.
“On a personal level, it’s been great for us. The restaurant has some parking that patrons can come down and park and go inside the restaurant,” Rivera said.
He also said the area is still a destination for people in the community to come enjoy the waterfront.
“It’s been a little quiet, but still plenty of people coming in to enjoy the beach and the beautiful view and seeing the whales go by. I’ve seen the community come down and enjoy the park and be able to be with the kids and play on the beach and not be oversaturated by fishermen.”
Terry Jungman, Parks Tacoma Capital Improvement Program Manager, said the city is working to balance the needs of the immediate neighborhood with the regional demand for recreation.
The city’s current vision for the site includes a modernized structure designed to serve multiple types of visitors.
“I think they (the local community) also want to see it done in a responsible way. We are responsive to the neighborhood and the community that lives around the pier, but also fulfilling the need, the regional need for fishing. It’s definitely a balancing act for us,” Jungman said.
If voters approve the bond measure in April, reconstruction of the Dash Point Pier is scheduled to be one of the first projects to begin.
Residents have until April 28 to return their ballots.
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