This Pierce County city plans a $9 million park upgrade. Locals want a spray park
Sumner residents want a spray park, and the city may be able to grant them that wish soon.
The city of Sumner plans to update Seibenthaler Park as well as turn a 4-acre property into one of the city’s largest neighborhood parks. The city is years away from breaking ground.
Seibenthaler Park at 1602 Bonney Ave. currently has a small playground, temporary dog park, basketball court and a few benches and tables. The last time the 2-acre park received any upgrades was in 2017 when the playground needed to be replaced, after part of the equipment broke.
The field at the park also “isn’t always nice as it could be,” community services manager Derek Barry said. The field can get squishy and muddy, especially when it rains.
“It has the greatest need,” Barry said. “It’s been a challenging park.”
Some of the upgrades the city plans on implementing include a spray park, permanent dog park and multipurpose court. The city is also considering adding ADA parking, restrooms and picnic areas. An improved playground is also included in the plan.
The 4-acre property, also known as the Bennett Property, is at 4811 East Valley Hwy. E. The vacant property will have a play area, multipurpose court and fitness stations. There will also be parking stalls, restrooms and picnic areas.
Seibenthaler Park and the Bennett Property are about half a mile from each other. Barry said residents near the Bennett Property do not have access to a nearby park other than Seibenthaler.
Upgrades to Seibenthaler Park are expected to cost about $9.1 million. Turning the Bennett Property into a neighborhood park from the ground up will cost about $9.5 million.
Barry said the city plans to apply for state grants to cover the costs of both parks. The city is also considering pulling funds from the park and impact fees developers pay to help fund the city’s parks. The city is currently in the process of applying for grants, he said.
The city will not find out if they get state funding until summer 2023, Barry said. Construction for both parks will be done in phases, and phase one may not be done until the end of 2025, he said.
“We’re trying to maximize the money we have and stretch every dollar we have,” Barry said.
The City Council expressed support for the plan during the Feb. 28 City Council study session. The council will reconvene in early April to officially vote to adopt the plan for both parks.
Council member Patrick Reed said during the study session that he is not in favor of establishing a levy or increasing taxes to help fund the parks but is interested in the city pursuing matching grant opportunities.
The city initially put out a survey in summer 2021, asking residents about features or amenities they would like to see in a park. The city put out another survey in January 2022, asking residents what they were most excited about.
Out of the 204 responses, the top three amenities people want to see at Seibenthaler Park are the spray park, dog park and play area. The top three amenities people want at the Bennett Property are the play area, fitness stations and multipurpose court.
The last park the city built from the ground up was Rainier View Park at 15603 Meade McCumber Rd. E., which was in 2007, about 15 years ago.
This story was originally published March 6, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
