Have a look at new spray park, amenities opening Saturday at Pierce County regional park
The Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway has gotten a $18.7 million makeover of its outside space.
Saturday morning is the first day people will be able to run around the new play fields and splash pad. In addition to food trucks, speakers, booths, a scavenger hunt and games, there will be free soccer, tennis, pickleball and basketball clinics. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., address 521 Military Road S.
On Friday, The News Tribune was granted a special tour to provide an inside look of the first phase of the makeover. Funding for the project included grants from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee grants, a grant from the Department of Commerce, park impact fees, sales tax, real estate excise taxes and community fundraising, according to county spokesperson Andriana Fletcher.
As previously reported by The News Tribune, the Bresemann Forest was closed to complete the renovations earlier this year, to the dismay of residents.
What’s new?
One of the most exciting additions to Sprinker Recreation Center is a new splash pad, with colorful spiral water features. Andrea Clay, Pierce County parks and recreation manager, told The News Tribune it’s the only one in that part of the county.
“The closest ones I would say are downtown Puyallup and maybe the Star Center,” Clay said. “This is a huge draw.”
On Saturday the center will open colorful new and accessible playground equipment and jungle gyms, in addition to new park shelters, a paved trail connecting to the Parkland Community Trail and an adult outdoor fitness court with QR codes to workouts.
There are some new amenities to help athletes hone their soccer skills as well. That includes Pierce County’s only outdoor Futsal Court, a gated arena with nets where five-on-five soccer teams can compete and practice. There’s also two donated Teqball tables, which look like ping pong tables except they’re curved and players hit a soccer ball or volleyball across the tables with their feet.
Something Clay is most excited about are the new fully synthetic multi-sport athletic fields near the skate park at the north end of the center. They will be able to accommodate baseball, softball, fast pitch, soccer and lacrosse, she said.
The basketball courts have been renovated with new nets and painted lines.
“We’re just really excited to get the park open and available for the public to start using,” Clay said, noting that Sprinker Recreation Center will be a regional draw but most importantly there for the local community to use.
The new amenities are in addition to the existing indoor ice rink, four indoor tennis courts, a large skateboarding park, eight softball diamonds, meeting rooms, walking trails and mountain climbing rock on site.
Parks staff expect more than 1,000 people will use the spray park every day, and more than 2,000 will use the outdoor recreational facilities daily, Clay said
The spray park will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday, according to Clay. On Tuesdays the spray park will be closed for part of the day to undergo cleaning and give staff time to get acquainted with its maintenance. She expects the spray park to be open about 2 p.m. Tuesdays, but that might change to noon as staff become more knowledgeable.
What will happen in Phase 2?
A second phase of outdoor improvements to the Sprinker Recreation Center will add four additional multi-sport athletic fields, bringing the total of new fields to six, Clay said.
There will be some renovations to the inside of the east side of the recreation center, including adding more community spaces and spaces to rent, as well as the potential for more space for basketball, volleyball and pickleball, she said.
As reported by The News Tribune’s Craig Sailor in January, the budget for Phase 2 is about $12 million.
Clay said all these upgrades are the first major changes to the park since 1976. The design for the second phase of improvements is slated for 2025 with construction happening in 2026.
“There’s nothing like this in the area,” she said.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story reported a different cost for the new amenities opening Saturday. That number has been updated after the county provided a new figure.
This story was originally published August 16, 2024 at 1:49 PM.
