Construction underway for first phase of $31.6 million Rec Center near Gig Harbor

Peninsula Metropolitan Parks received $1 million in state funding to help build the Community Recreation Center.

The money will come from the $8.9 billion dollar capital budget from the Washington State Legislature, according to a PenMet press release April 27.

The project was originally approved by the PenMet board in 2021 with a construction budget of $31.6 million.

The $31.6 million budget includes construction costs and soft costs such as permit fees, sales tax, design fees, fixtures, furnishings, equipment and project contingency, Ally Bujacich, executive director for PenMet Parks told the Gateway Monday.

The funding for the project is a combination of $11.6 million from the district’s capital project fund, $16 million in bonds, a $3.1 million capital campaign, and $900,000 in state and local grants, The Gateway previously reported.

In 2019 the park district bought the former Performance Golf Center at 2416 14th Ave. NW for $4.3 million.

The project to build the 64,000-square-foot facility is happening in two phases.

“The design provides a campus-like environment with two buildings complementing each other across a multi-use grass area that is sized to accommodate a youth soccer field,” the press release said.

Bujacich added the new buildings will be connected by the multipurpose lawn and pedestrian pathways.

Phase one will take the building at the site that used to be a golf pro shop and turn it into PenMet Parks’ permanent administrative headquarters and additional community program space, according to the press release.

Renovations for phase one have started and are expected to finish this year.

Phase two is to build the new indoor recreation center, extend the Cushman Trail, and renovate the existing miniature golf course.

Although work has not begun for phase two, the design process is complete and they are awaiting final permits, Bujacich said.

Phase two construction will begin this year and will be complete in 2024.

“The facility includes an indoor turf field for activities such as soccer, lacrosse, and football, three multi-purpose gymnasiums for basketball, pickleball, and volleyball, an elevated track, as well as multipurpose rooms and other community gathering spaces that will accommodate a wide range of activities,” the press release said.

“There are gathering and viewing spaces, flexible rooms that may be used for programming, meetings, classes, parties, and more, and spaces to display artwork,” Bujacich said.

The new facility will allow additional space for recreational sports, which is a hot topic in Gig Harbor.

“Gig Harbor is in dire need of more accessible places for youth, families, and seniors to recreate,” Park Commissioner Amanda Babich said in the press release. “The Community Recreation Center will help to fill the need for indoor recreation facilities for our community.”

The project’s expansion of the Cushman Trail will take place at the southern end point at 24th Street Northwest. The trail will be extended along the side of the rec center, The Gateway previously reported.

Expanding Cushman Trail brings “it considerably closer to a connection with the Narrows Bridge and the trail system beyond,” Bujacich said.