Category Archives: Parks

Metro Park’s Star Center

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Metro Parks Tacoma’s Star Center at 3873 S. 66th St., Tacoma, WA  98409 is very nice. Their website says “The 32,000 square foot STAR Center offers a stunning new hall for rentals, a new music and dance studio, a demonstration kitchen, fitness room, as well as a dynamic indoor/outdoor children’s playground with an adjacent party rental space.” What surprised me the most was the Subway Restaurant in the building.  http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/star/

I was there for the kick off of the Prop 1 Campaign. The school bond, which will go on the ballot on February 12th, would provide much needed funding to renovate or replace 14 schools and would also make safety repairs and many other Tacoma schools. The 14 schools are Washington*, SAMI, McCarver*, Wilson, Stewart*, Wainwright, Arlington, Browns Pt., Lyon, Birney, Grant, Boze, Downing and Hunt. The schools with * will maintain their historic character. http://www.tacoma.k12.wa.us/information/Documents/Proposition%201%20brochure.pdf

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Nisqually Delta Wildlife Refuge

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The Nisqually Delta is one of 23 National Wildlife Refuges in Washington State and the only one in Thurston County. Today I went to visit because I had to get out of the house and into the sunshine. Dear husband got up extra early and opted for a nap and dear daughter was under the weather. I was afraid that the eagles would carry away the dogs (and it turns out they weren’t allowed anyway), so I went alone. I was surprised to see that the visitor center was open and there were only a couple of parking spots available.

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/nisqually/

The dairy barns above were built in 1934 as part of the large Brown family farm that had been on the site. The eagle below was perched on a tree near the barns. One of the highlights of the hike was an older man with a very nice telescope showed me a Northern Shrike, an unusual bird for this part of the country. Apparently this charming little bird will sometimes eat other birds! Live and learn.

 

Hola from the Portland Avenue Community Center

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The Portland Avenue Community Center at 3513 E. Portland Avenue has a hidden mural on its free standing restroom building. It is a training building and has several different artists and styles and says a cheerful Hola (hello).

The Tacoma Mural Website    shows that the lead artists are Rachel Dotson, Jeremy Gregory, Joni Joachims, Kelda Martensen and Chris Sharp. The artist team is Dionne Bonner, Kate Cendejas, Larine Chung, Mike Corcoran, Brad Dinsmore, Shanna Duncan, Josh Everson, Jani Freimann, Jill Frey, Rajaa Gharbi, Kathleen Gray, Alexandra Kerl, Trinda Love, Jena Marks, Marlin Peterson, Brad Pugh, Tenold Sundberg, Asia Tail and Patricia Vazquez Gomez.

Tidal Pool, Rustin Way

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I’ve been past this part of Ruston Way a bunch of times and hadn’t realized that it was the home of Tidal Pool, an art installation featuring mosaic shells and a sand dollar. This low lying piece is next to the fire station and between Duke’s Chowder House and Katie Downs.

An article about the lovely art can be found here http://www.tacomaweekly.com/citylife/view/know_your_public_art_ruston_ways_tidal_pool/

and the artist’s website is here http://www.tacomaweekly.com/citylife/view/know_your_public_art_ruston_ways_tidal_pool/

DeYoung Park, Woodinville

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Continuing my art month, I made a point to find art while visiting Woodinville today. The .62 acre DeYoung Park is located in Woodinville’s Town Center across the street from Molbak’s. It is known for hosting public events and features picnic tables under what is undoubtedly lovely in the spring wisteria.

The park’s statue which features a woman gardening with a dog by her side is titled Gardener. It was created by Georgia Gerber and installed in 2005. Ms. Gerber has an amazing portfolio of statues including the famous Rachel the Pig at Pike Place Market in Seattle. http://www.georgiagerber.com/

Trilogy at Wright’s Park

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Wright’s Park is very lovely this time of year with all of the fall colors, though it was breezy and rather cool. Today I took a stroll through the park and stopped to admire the 1978 bronze sculpture titled Trilogy by artist Larry Anderson. It is located on an island in a duck pond. Larry Anderson graduated from Tacoma’s Lincoln High School.

Davy Crocket’s Wife’s Grave

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The old Acton Cemetery was founded in 1855 and has the graves of Davy Crocket’s wife, son and daughter in law. The grouping of the Crocket graves and associated statue are the smallest state park in Texas. The statue was erected in 1911 to honor all Texas pioneer mothers. The Church of the Good Shepard is located at the edge of the cemetery.

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Kobayashi Park

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I had no idea that Kobayashi Park was there at 6420 Chambers Creek Road West in University Place. It is tucked away and not very clearly marked and we only found it by accident. But we’re glad that we found it! We walked the trails in both directions from the small parking lot. In one direction the path followed a small stream. The family was thrill to see a Pileated Woodpecker (see the photo below, but you have to look hard!) ! I don’t think that I’ve ever seen one before. The path in the other direction went past the house and followed a larger stream which called to me to jump right in! But I refrained.

The 4.82 acre site for Kobayashi Park in University Place was purchased on September 16, 2004. The site contains the confluence of Chambers and Leach Creeks, both salmon bearing streams. There is a 1964 house on the site which is vacant and not in great shape.

Owen’s Beach on a summer day

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Dear daughter and I were going to go to one of the local pools, but it was packed! So, I suggested Owen’s Beach in Point Defiance, Tacoma. It was a great choice.The weather was perfect, there was a comfortable crowd and I found a parking spot in the shade. We were bold and went out into the water and some nice lady was right when she said that it wasn’t cold after about five minutes. That’s because my feet had lost all feeling!

The park, which was named for Floyd E. Owen, a Metro Parks employee of 48 year, has plenty of shoreline/beach, picnic areas, restrooms and a concession stand.

http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/owen-beach/

Granbury Beach Park

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I visited Granbury Beach Park at 623 West Pearl Street, Granbury, TX on 8/8/12 (exactly three years ago), but apparently just posted two photos and no words. The first two photos are from then and the rest are from today. The beach features white sand, a spray park, a concession stand and thatched roof picnic pavilions. There is a walk way that delineates the swimming area of the beach and most of that swimming area is above my head. There were plenty of families swimming and making sand castles.

Granbury had a great deal of rain this spring and early summer and the lake is back to normal levels. To see what the beach was like during the drought, view this wonderful video. The official website for the beach is here.

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Update 8.2016 A few more photos!

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The palm street shot is from the Convention Center.