Changes are coming to the front door of Tacoma’s favorite playground.

Crews are removing turf in some areas at the entrance to Point Defiance Park and replacing it with a collection of native plants and other flora that weather well, drink less water and require little maintenance.

The beloved Point Defiance bowl – the grassy expanse popular among picnickers, couples cuddling on blankets and kids playing Frisbee, tag and other games – is not affected.

But the scent of change isn’t pleasing to some who use the park.

Plantings will replace grass in a not-quite quarter-acre wedge between two roads at the park entrance and along a half acre of steep slope jutting down from North Park Avenue across from the Goldfish Tavern.

Parks superintendent Marina Becker looks forward to less water blasting from sprinklers and fewer emissions spewing from lawnmowers.

Metro Parks natural resources coordinator Mary Anderson sees the new plantings as an attractive change of scenery likely to draw bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife.

But the plan stirred up a hornet’s nest in the neighborhood and drew criticism that Metro Parks didn’t give enough warning of the changes so that neighbors could respond.

An open house is scheduled for tonight to show people drawings of the landscaping plans and to continue to solicit comments.

Neighbor Jennifer Jensen, who lives across the street from the 702-acre, century-old park, said Metro Parks underestimated the public’s passion about what her husband, Tom, calls the park’s “foyer.”

“I don’t think they realized how significant this small, green patch is to the community,” she said.

In an e-mail to Becker, Jensen extolled the virtues of the grassy slopes. She noted how they allow light to flood the park on sunny days; provide a clear view, unobstructed by bushes or other plants that might shelter bad behavior; offer a great expanse for kids to get exercise; and ring with the happy sounds of children sledding on snowy days.

Jensen said the changes also don’t appear to line up with a long-range Point Defiance plan developed with years of citizen input.

Resident Katie Davis agreed, also in an e-mail to Becker.

She forwarded news of the changes to about 10 friends “who are heavy users of the park and none were aware of the development and were disappointed,” she wrote.

Officials say they understand the love Tacoma-area residents have for the park. But they didn’t initially view landscaping changes, already done at some other parks, as something that would draw high interest or criticism, said Metro Parks spokeswoman Nancy Johnson.

The park district did send out around 10,000 e-mails to people who routinely want parks news and notified residents who live nearby, Johnson said.

As a result of meetings with residents, Metro Parks has altered the types of some plants, including trees that won’t grow as tall, Becker said.

The work is timely because soil remediation of pollution from the old Asarco Smelter is under way. The grass is now torn up and irrigation systems are being replaced, Johnson said.

Asarco is paying for the remediation in the bowl as part of its $1.1 million, 14-acre restoration job at the park, Becker said. Metro Parks is using around $25,000 in bond funds for plants and labor on the slope and wedge area.

Only a portion of the slope is being planted this year; phase two, which abuts the existing Native Garden, is planned for next fall.

Becker said she doesn’t know how much money having low-maintenance plants will save, but both she and Anderson believe it will significantly reduce the park’s carbon footprint. Not watering that turf will save an estimated 1 million gallons of water a year, Becker added.

Removing the area as an attractive nuisance for winter sledding will reduce potential liability, Johnson said.

Parks officials believe they’re being good environmental stewards and good citizens.

Dick and Jan Marshall of University Place, who hike in the park about three days a week, looked at the area Wednesday and said they think it will do fine with native plants.

“We just think the park is fabulous, and they do a great job. It’s well-maintained,” Jan Marshall said.

Kris Sherman: 253-597-8659

kris.sherman@thenewstribune.com

TO GO

What: A public meeting about landscaping changes overlooking the bowl area at Point Defiance Park.

Who: Metro Parks Tacoma

When: 6 p.m. today

Where: Point Defiance Lodge near the entrance to the park, 5400 N. Pearl St.

More information: www.metroparkstacoma.org; 253-305-1000