Gig Harbor has a new parks manager. Here’s what he has to say about big projects ahead
Gig Harbor has a new parks manager who has worked in parks and planning for 25 years.
Matthew Keough previously worked for Covington; Metro Parks Tacoma; Raleigh, North Carolina; Kitsap County; Bremerton; and 15 years ago as an assistant planner for Gig Harbor.
He returned to the city at the end of last month as parks manager.
“I’ve witnessed a lot of changes, and I’m excited to continue thinking about what we need to do to get ready for the future,” Keough told The Gateway. “I now have my own long-term investment here, and it’s exciting to be back.”
Keough has a master’s degree from the University of Arizona in Urban and Regional Planning and a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Urban Planning from the University of Virginia.
“Welcoming Matthew back to the City of Gig Harbor is an exciting opportunity to bring his wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the role, while also leveraging his historical knowledge of the City’s parks and recreation assets,” Mayor Tracie Markley said in a news release about the appointment. “We are confident he will do an excellent job in helping execute the City’s vision for the future of our Gig Harbor parks.”
The previous parks manager, Nicole Jones-Vogel, resigned in July 2020, The Gateway reported.
“The City of Gig Harbor is really fortunate to have finally been able to fill the Parks Manager position,” Parks Commission Chair Ben Coronado said in the news release. “Through the hiring process I had the opportunity to meet Matthew Keough a couple of occasions and he brings with him a lot of experience and talents. I will look forward to working with him in the future.”
One of the big projects ahead is the initial phase of the new Gig Harbor sports complex at 10770 Harbor Hill Dr.
“We are proceeding with city leadership on something called phase 1B. It’s a multi-use recreation space, but it will include new pickleball courts, a bocce ball court, playground, open space, event space and restrooms,” Keough said.
That phase should be ready for visitors in late 2023, he said.
“It’s going through design and permitting in 2022, and we’ll be expending some of our dedicated funds toward it in 2022,” he said. “It does not yet have a full price and full cost estimate.”
The city committed $1 million to the project in 2022 alone, he said.
“I have the long-range task of thinking about the entire sports complex and how it works together with the community and with adjacent parks and trails,” he said.
The next phase of the project, 1A, is lighted turf fields, to be built in partnership with the adjacent YMCA. That was initially going to be the first phase of the project. Depending on fundraising, construction on that part of the complex might be finished at the end of 2024.
Another big project is the community paddlers dock, which he said is set to open this spring.
“We’re installing a launch float with public access for human-powered watercraft,” he said. “Anybody can come down to the Gig Harbor waterfront and launch their kayaks and canoes through a safe, accessible float.”
There will be restrooms, space for gathering, and rentable storage for boats and paddleboards.
Applications for spots in the rental facility will open next month, he said.
Asked about challenges ahead for the city, Keough talked about making sure parks and facilities meet the needs of Gig Harbor’s changing demographics.
“The demographics are changing such that we’re seeing more families, larger households,” he said.
He said there’s a “pent-up need for senior services and facilities” and a “greater awareness of demographics and differences, and needs that are emerging among teens and seniors especially.”
In his previous role with the city, Keough facilitated projects such as the initial permitting for the Kenneth Leo Marvin Veteran’s Park.
“The importance of parks is my passion and I believe a strong passion within Gig Harbor,” he said.
