Upgrades to Pierce County trails and parks underway in 2025

The curated articles on Pierce County park and trail projects highlight renovations, closures for upgrades, and new facilities that aim to improve public access and amenities.

One article reports that a section of Orangegate Park is closed for logging and improvements until 2027. Crews aim to thin unhealthy trees, add new amenities like a playground, and connect the park to the Pipeline Trail. Another article notes the reopening of Kopachuck State Park after a $10 million renovation. The park now includes a cabin-style playground, a visitors center and improved infrastructure. A third article highlights the planned sports complex near Bonney Lake. The City of Bonney Lake plans to sell land for developing a facility featuring pickleball courts, turf fields and a connecting trailhead. Lastly, construction on the Spiketon Ditch Bridge on the Foothills Trail is underway. The $1.4 million project will allow bikers and pedestrians to once again travel between Buckley and South Prairie on the trail.

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Larry Volland (center-bottom) makes his way along one of the numerous paths through the tall trees on his way to exiting Orangegate Park on Thursday afternoon. By Pete Caster

NO. 1: 40 ACRES OF PIERCE COUNTY PARK CLOSED FOR TWO YEARS FOR LOGGING, UPDATES

The northern section of the park is expected to open again in 2027. | Published July 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund

Swan Creek Trail lot on Pioneer Way on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. The lot will be closed starting July 21 By Brian Hayes

NO. 2: BUSY CREEKSIDE HIKING TRAIL IN PIERCE COUNTY WILL BE CLOSED STARTING NEXT WEEK

Swan Creek Mountain Bike Park may also be closed for a short time later this summer. | Published July 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

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A cabin-style playground is among the new features at Kopachuck State Park, pictured on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, near Gig Harbor, Wash. Farrah, 2, from left, father and project superintendent Andrew Manteufel, mother Taylor Manteufel, and sister Millie, 4, enjoy the playground during a tour in preparation of the park's grand reopening. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 3: POPULAR WA PARK REOPENS WITH CABIN-STYLE PLAY GROUND. HAVE A LOOK HERE

After more than a year, Kopachuck State Park will be open to the public following its $10 million renovation. | Published August 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sephora Charles

An artistic rendering of the pickleball courts at the Bonney Lake Athletic Facility planned for the Reed Property on Barkubein Road near 72nd Street East. This rendering is in one of the permits on the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office’s website.

NO. 4: NEW PIERCE COUNTY SPORTS COMPLEX WILL HAVE PICKLEBALL, TURF FIELDS AND A TRAIL

A 20-acre property in the Buckley area is now one step closer to becoming a local sports complex. | Published August 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund

This image shows the reconstruction process of the Spiketon Dune Bridge at Foothill Trails as of this August.

NO. 5: UPDATES ON POPULAR PIERCE COUNTY TRAIL INCLUDE NEW TRAILHEAD AND A $1.4M BRIDGE

After construction delays, the Spiketon Ditch Bridge is set to reopen in the coming months. | Published August 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sephora Charles

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.