The measure includes 100 projects and would not result in a tax increase.
TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma-area voters headed to the polls Tuesday to decide on a parks bond measure that would fund the creation and restoration of parks, community centers, trails, and pedestrian bridges — all without raising taxes.
Parks Tacoma is backing the proposed $155 million bond. Funding would pay for the creation of new parks, updating of existing playgrounds, renovations at community centers and upgraded trails and pedestrian bridges.
The measure, if approved, would not raise property taxes.
The proposed bond would maintain the current bonding rate, costing the average Tacoma homeowner approximately $250 per year.
Because it is a bond measure, it requires approval from more than 60% of voters to pass.
If approved, the bond would fund 100 projects across the Tacoma area, ranging from renovations of aging community centers to new recreational amenities in underserved neighborhoods.
Among the facilities slated for improvement is People’s Community Center, the oldest in the Parks Tacoma system. Built in 1978, the center serves as a critical hub for both housed and unhoused residents.
“This is a hub for people who live in the community, and this is a hub for people who don’t have homes,” said Terry Jungman, Parks Tacoma’s capital program manager.
“Everything is kind of at an age where everything needs to be replaced,” he said of the community center.
Under the bond, the facility would receive a full renovation and expansion to better serve growing community needs.
The measure would also bring new investment to East Tacoma, including a new playground and restrooms at Portland Avenue Park, as well as the area’s first sprayground.
Jungman noted the importance of directing resources to that part of the city.
“This is an area of town that has pretty low opportunities and a socioeconomically disadvantaged community, and it needs this investment,” he said.
Beyond recreation centers and playgrounds, the bond would also fund improvements to trails and pedestrian bridges throughout the region.
Parks Board President Matt Mauer warned that failure to pass the measure could force closures of aging infrastructure.
“The cost of maintaining these structures and buildings that we are going to be replacing in this bond will get too much, and potentially things would have to be closed down,” Mauer said.
Mauer framed the vote as an investment in Tacoma’s future.
“If we don’t make those continuing investments now, our future generations, 10-15 years from now, will not have the same experience that you’re having right now,” Mauer said.
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