BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERSAaron Pointer, PresidentTim Reid, ClerkJerry ThorpeBernado TumaVictoria Woodards

Jack Wilson, Executive Director

STEERING COMMITTEEFred Brookshire – South End Neighborhood Council ChairJohn Pellessier – South End Neighborhood CouncilDean Johnny – Safe StreetsMichele Chapin – ResidentDebbi Hanson – Metro Parks Tacoma, RecreationLee Fellenberg – Metro Parks Tacoma, Parks & Building ServicesGreg Guild – Metro Parks Tacoma, Parks & Building ServicesMarina Becker – Metro Parks Tacoma, Parks & Building Services

DESIGN TEAMMETRO PARKS TACOMADoug Fraser – Design and Construction ManagerKristi Evans – Project ManagerSheree Trefry – Graphic Designer

CONSULTANTSArchitects BCRA – Building AssessmentsAgua Tierra Land and Water Services, Inc. – Wetland AssessmentStephanie Bower – Architectural Illustrations

AC

KN

OW

LED

GEM

ENTS

WA

PATO

PA

RK

MA

STE

R P

LAN

• M

ETR

O P

AR

KS

TA

CO

MA

• SE

PTE

MB

ER

200

51

2W

APATO

PAR

K M

AS

TER

PLA

N • M

ETR

O PA

RK

S TA

CO

MA • S

EP

TEM

BE

R 2005

Figure 1 Illustrative D

rawing

Project Overview

This plan for Wapato Park is the first comprehensive master plan for thepark. Wapato Park was established in the early 1920’s as a public park afterserving as an informal and private recreation facility since the late 1800’s.

The park has continued to expand into the 21st century, as adjoining in-lotswere purchased. At its current size of 87.49 acres Wapato Park is the thirdlargest park in the city and contains the largest freshwater lake at 34 acres.The design of the park evolved in part from the former 364 acre estate ofRandolph F. Radebaugh that was developed in the late 1800’s as a privatepark retreat for the developing suburbs at the end of the streetcar line. Muchof the park’s character and infrastructure date back to the improvementsmade as part of the 1930’s Work Progress Administration (WPA), whichbrought to Tacoma, as it did to so much of the country, a great surge ofrecreational amenity construction.

Wapato Park continues to be a popular destinationfor residents to stroll, enjoy family outings, or justto relax. Yet, with this popularity and the toll fromthe years of use a number of issues need to beaddressed in order to preserve and maintain thissignificant park so it can continue to meet therecreational needs of the community.

This adopted Master Plan is the first step.

EXEC

UTI

VE S

UM

MA

RY

WA

PATO

PA

RK

MA

STE

R P

LAN

• M

ETR

O P

AR

KS

TA

CO

MA

• SE

PTE

MB

ER

200

5 3

Bathhouse 2005

Vision Statement

Wapato Park is one of Tacoma’s signature parksand will continue to be a focal point, of not onlythe South Tacoma Neighborhood but also thesurrounding region as a vital urban park andgreen space. From its roots dating back to the late1800’s, Wapato Park has developed as a familyoriented “resort” style park for those seeking ahigh quality leisure experience in a close to homenatural setting. The park will be well known as ahigh quality, safe, family oriented park that offersdiverse recreational and passive leisure activitieswithin an urban natural area. The park will host anumber of community events and new and revital-ized facilities will provide highly desirable loca-tions for group rentals, and lake oriented recre-ation. The park will be an outstanding example ofsustainable park development and management.

Wapato Park 1938courtesy of the Tacoma Public Library Northwest Room

North Wetland 2005

EXECU

TIVE SUM

MA

RY

4W

APATO

PAR

K M

AS

TER

PLA

N • M

ETR

O PA

RK

S TA

CO

MA • S

EP

TEM

BE

R 2005

Pergola 2005

Design Principles

Arising from the input by the community during the first stages of fact-findinga number of common themes were repeated. These popular impressionsand hopes became the basis for the following set of Design Principles thatwere utilized throughout the design process to guide the final master plan.

• Signature Park Development (Resort Concept)The Long Range Strategic Plan for Metro Parks has developed acategory of parks entitled “Signature Parks” of which five suchfacilities exist throughout the park system. Each of these designatedparks serves primarily as a community level park but is distinguishedby its own set of unique characteristics. Wapato Park, by virtue ofhaving the largest lake within the City of Tacoma, has historicallybeen a destination park for families seeking a summer outing experi-ence. The legacy of the WPA created a physical environment remi-niscent of the resort retreats of the Adirondacks and the architecturalstyle found throughout the national park system. This quality of styleand history of use provides a theme for renovation and the futureenhancements to the park to recreate the vision of a family orientedpark retreat for the citizens of Tacoma.

• Increase safety in the parkMany of the park’s amenities are located in the center of the parkaway from parking areas and roadways. This creates difficulty forsurveillance and helps lead to a sense of insecurity for park users. Inaddition, over 50% of the park is covered by forested area and hassuffered from problems with illicit activities and homeless camps.Although most of those surveyed during the design process ex-pressed that they feel safe in the park their comments were oftenfollowed by, “except after dark.”

It will be important to incorporate the concepts of Crime PreventionThrough Environmental Design, (CPTED). Activities need to belocated in open areas to increase visibility. Pathways need to beimproved to include clearing of understory vegetation and upgradingsurfaces to encourage public use into the more remote areas of thepark. Lighting of the park can also serve as a deterrent to inappropri-ate activities and encourage the expanded use of the park.

WA

PATO

PA

RK

MA

STE

R P

LAN

• M

ETR

O P

AR

KS

TA

CO

MA

• SE

PTE

MB

ER

200

5 5

EXEC

UTI

VE S

UM

MA

RY

• Maintain the park’s historical assetsThe park is an eclectic mix of design stylesfrom the years of expansion and addedimprovements. However, the overridingcharacter of the park is still shaped by thefacilities constructed in the 1930’s as part ofthe WPA. Including the bathhouse, shelter,and stone bridge, these assets provide anarchitectural vocabulary for future improve-ments while providing the community a senseof continuity and place. The historical charmand character of the park needs to be re-tained, enhanced, and interpreted for itseducational and cultural significance to thecommunity.

• Protect the natural settingWith its 34 acre lake, wooded hillsides, andwetlands, Wapato Park is an important urbangreenspace within the city limits of Tacoma.Many large trees exist throughout the parkand need to be inventoried and incorporatedinto a broader forest management plan. Inaddition, the lake and surrounding wetlandsserve as a stormwater detention basin for thesurrounding urban areas. Although this bringschallenges of its own for dealing with issuesof pollution and sedimentation impacts on thelake this natural characteristic provides goodopportunities for education and interpretation.

• Improve the quality of and access to the lakeAs a recreational amenity the lake provides a unique close-to-homeopportunity for the community. Improvement of the water quality andoverall health of this lake is vital to the future success of the park asa signature park for the community. Although much of the currentcondition of the lake can be attributed to the natural process ofeutrophication, (the slow ageing process during which a lake evolvesinto a bog or marsh and eventually disappears), it will be necessaryfor Metro Parks to look at significant steps to control this process.

6W

APATO

PAR

K M

AS

TER

PLA

N • M

ETR

O PA

RK

S TA

CO

MA • S

EP

TEM

BE

R 2005

Stone Bridge 2005

EXECU

TIVE SUM

MA

RY

Stone Bridge 1953courtesy of Tacoma Public Library NW Room

• Provide for community eventsAs part of the signature park designation and in response to thecommunity’s expressed desire for more community events, improve-ments are proposed to better accommodate this use. With enhancedutility infrastructure, placement of future amenities, and utilization ofthe open lawn areas, the park will become an attractive location forcommunity events and activities.

• Incorporate sustainable design into park operations and man-agementSustainability and environmental responsibility have become anexpected practice in design, management, and operations of parksand park facilities. Future improvements at Wapato Park will beapproached with the goal of incorporating sustainable measures toreduce maintenance, improve operations, reduce costs, and contrib-ute to the environmental and economicstewardship of the community as a whole.

WA

PATO

PA

RK

MA

STE

R P

LAN

• M

ETR

O P

AR

KS

TA

CO

MA

• SE

PTE

MB

ER

200

5 7

EXEC

UTI

VE S

UM

MA

RY

Rhododendron Garden 2005

Bathhouse 2005