Local

Explore updates to Pierce County parks and trails, including recent openings

Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of articles highlights recent developments and improvements to the parks and trails of Pierce County. Each piece details updates about amenities, renovations, and new projects in the area.

A new park, Doris Heritage Park, opened with features like pickleball courts and a ship-themed playground in Gig Harbor. Colburn Park in Fife introduces a new splash pad with rotating sprinklers and rentable cabanas. A major Foothills Trail bridge replacement faces delays due to unstable soil, postponing its opening to late summer. Pierce County celebrated the extension of the Pipeline Trail, offering guided nature walks and family-friendly events.

Spiketon Ditch Bridge is unsafe for public access, and it will be closed for a minimum of one to two years. The bridge is on the Foothills Trail between South Prairie and Buckley. By Alexis Krell

NO. 1: BRIDGE OPENING ON BUSY PIERCE COUNTY TRAIL DELAYED DUE TO UNSTABLE SOIL

Bikers haven’t been able to ride the full length of the popular trail since November 2023. | Published May 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Constanza Montemayor

The Star Center, is closing for maintenance, including playground upgrades, in Tacoma, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 2: TACOMA COMMUNITY CENTER CLOSING FOR MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING PLAYGROUND UPGRADES

All operations, including classes, programs, and community amenities will be unavailable during the closure. | Published June 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sephora Charles

This photo shows Doris Heritage Park’s playground before its grand opening. This sea-like playground has a slide, jungle gym and tunnels.

NO. 3: NEW PIERCE COUNTY PARK HAS PICKLEBALL COURTS AND A SHIP-THEMED PLAYGROUND

The $6.6 million park is named for a legend in the running community. | Published June 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sephora Charles

Interactive features for the new splash pad at Colburn Park are visible on Monday, June 23, 2025, as the city prepares for the water play area’s opening July 3 in Fife, Wash. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 4: NEW SPLASH PAD OPENS NEXT WEEK IN PIERCE COUNTY WITH ROTATING SPRINKLERS, CABANAS

Just in time for the summer heat. | Published June 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

The Pipeline Trail extension is 5.8 miles from the Tacoma Dome into rural Pierce County ending at Orangegate Park on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 5: NEW PIERCE COUNTY HIKING TRAIL OPENS THIS WEEKEND, WITH FREE GUIDED NATURE WALKS

Activities include nature scavenger hunts, a rubber-duck hunt, build-you-own-birdhouse and pinwheel decorating, free ice cream and bubble stations. | Published June 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.