YMCA opens $7 million turf fields in Pierce County. They’re taking reservations
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Two lit turf fields opened in Gig Harbor, available for group and public use.
- YMCA financed Phase 1A with $7 million and will operate fields under lease.
- Fields schedule posted online; grand opening celebration set for April 24.
Two long-awaited sports fields in Gig Harbor are now open for play.
Long heralded as a step toward addressing the area’s burgeoning youth athlete population, the fields opened to the public on April 6. Anyone can use the fields when they aren’t in use by a registered group, according to a press release from the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties.
Over 9,000 kids play field sports in the greater Gig Harbor area, the YMCA website says. The demand has forced groups to put kids on waitlists because of the lack of fields.
“Gig Harbor families have needed more places for kids to play and be active outdoors. We’re honored to be part of the solution,” Charlie Davis, CEO of the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, said in the release. “This project came together through a strong partnership with the City of Gig Harbor and the generosity of local donors who saw a clear need and stepped up. Together, we’re creating more opportunities for youth to thrive in our community.”
The two lit turf fields are located across from Swift Water Elementary and will accommodate soccer, football, lacrosse, T-ball and other field sports. The site also has 100 new parking spots. Organizers plan a grand opening celebration at 5 p.m. April 24, including a “short program, activities for kids on the fields, followed by a drone show,” the release says.
The opening of the fields marks another milestone for the Gig Harbor Sports Complex, a massive project involving a partnership between the city of Gig Harbor and the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties. Crews are building the complex in multiple phases, and the recently-opened fields represent Phase 1A, according to the city website.
The YMCA financed and developed this portion of the project, which cost $7 million. The Tom Taylor Family YMCA will operate the fields via a lease agreement with the city, the release says.
Phase 1B, known as Doris Heritage Park, opened in June 2025 and included a new playground, pickleball courts, bocce ball courts, a large playground and other amenities. Phase 2 will redevelop and convert the Peninsula Light Fields to turf, and Phase 3 will build new turf fields on an empty lot south of the Tom Taylor YMCA, according to the city website.
The News Tribune reported in February that the city of Gig Harbor hadn’t yet committed funds toward the second and third phases of the sports complex. City Parks Manager Jennifer Haro told The News Tribune that a funding recommendation for the project will be included in the 2027-2028 budget, for consideration by the city council.
The fields will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. The YMCA website shows a field availability calendar, application deadlines for groups to reserve the fields and field rental rates.
Groups have already started putting in reservations, according to an email Monday from Jyot Sandhu, a spokesperson for the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties.
“We have several clubs who are signed up for the quarter, and other open timeslots to meet the needs of the community who are excited about all of this sunshine, or are planning tournaments,” Sandhu wrote.
This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
