New plans for Stadium ballfields announced after Tacoma elementary playfield eliminated

Tacoma Public Schools has decided on two locations to address the need of a baseball field and a fast-pitch softball field for Stadium High School athletes,

Metro Parks and TPS had announced plans in February to revitalize Stanley Playfield, behind the elementary school and Al Davies Boys & Girls Club at 1712 S. 17th St. The renovation of the playfield would give a home field to Stadium High School baseball and softball players. At a community meeting in March, neighbors, parents and others voiced concerns about the plans and lack of outreach to the Central Tacoma neighborhood.

Last month, Metro Parks announced it would evaluate alternative sites.

At the TPS school board meeting on April 27, Chris Williams, TPS chief operating officer, said that Stanley Playfield was no longer a viable location.

Stanley Playfield would get a new playground, but the remaining field would remain unchanged for now.

The new plans are to establish an all-season, multi-sports field for baseball and soccer and make improvements at Peck Sports Complex, a Metro Parks facility at 1425 S. State St . The sports complex currently has four softball-sized fields.

Peck will be the home field for Stadium baseball players. It is about a seven-minute drive from the school.

Josh Garcia, superintendent of Tacoma Public Schools, said at the meeting that the field would be enhanced to accommodate the community when baseball is not being played.

Tacoma Public Schools also will invest in an all-season fast-pitch field at Hilltop Heritage Middle School, 602 N. Sprague Ave., for Stadium athletes. The two schools are five minutes apart. Williams said TPS also would make small enhancements to the school’s track.

Garcia said the school district wants to install all-weather infields and outfields whenever possible to allow kids to play even when it is wet outside.

Metro Parks said in an update that staff would start discussing how to incorporate TPS bond funding for Peck this month.

Currently, Stadium baseball players commute to Vassault Park for practices and games, and fast-pitch athletes travel to Browns Point Elementary School. The commute time and inclement weather have resulted in canceled games and lack of participation.

Construction on the two new fields is set to begin Spring 2024.

Garcia said the design process would need to start over.

Metro Parks is developing the timeline and community-input processes to inform the design updates for Peck and to develop a schematic that reflects that community’s priorities, according to an update.

Stanley Elementary will get a new playground. Construction is set to begin in June and be completed in September in time for the new school year. The project will include a fully fenced Pre-K play area and K-5 playground equipment with an outdoor fitness obstacle course, safety surfacing, slides, shaded area, swings and climbing structures that are ADA compliant.

The new playground is a part of a bond measure voters approved in 2020.

Metro Parks also has dedicated $300,000 from a 2014 park improvement bond for Stanley Playfield.

Metro Parks and TPS are developing a fencing plan to separate the existing playground from the rest of the park. The area will be gated to allow for community use outside of school hours. Metro Parks said in an update the majority of Stanley Playfield would remain unchanged until staff completes community engagement and understands the community’s priorities. Metro Parks has planned a series of workshops and online input for fall 2023 and winter 2024.