Hing Hay Park at 423 Maynard Ave S. is a vital part of Seattle’s International District. The name translates to “Park for Pleasurable Gatherings”. The pagoda, or Grand Pavilion, was constructed in Taipei, Taiwan in 1974. The mural facing the park shows an elaborate dragon. When I visited there was a group of men playing chess on the over-sized chess board and others were playing ping pong.
It’s been one year since I’ve started this new place of the day project and I wanted to pick an extra nice new place. I was going to go to the Pacific Ocean, but it was just too darned rainy and cold, so instead I went to Pagoda in Chinese Reconciliation Park at 1741 N. Schuster Parkway, Tacoma. The pagoda is a gift from a gift from Fuzhou, one of Tacoma’s sister cities. Apparently there was some vandalism on the building in May 2011 and now perimeter fencing is in place until security cameras can be installed. The pagoda, called a ting, will be open to the public in mid-September. The park also contains the Bridge of Pearls footbridge, which is accessible.
Per the Metro Parks Tacoma website “the Pagoda was built in 1914 as a replica of a 17th century Japanese Lodge. It was originally a waiting room for streetcars. Now this magnificent structure functions as a rental facility for weddings and other private parties as well as a venue for garden shows, lectures and concerts.”
http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=62
Update 4/15/2011 the pagoda was badly damaged by a suspicious fire.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/15/1627154/report-tacoma-fire-responding.html
Update 12/5/12 A community grand re-opening celebration is scheduled for January 12, 2013.
