Design phase to begin soon for 2 Foss Waterway park improvement projects

Progress is being made on plans to improve two new downtown Tacoma park spaces located along Thea Foss Waterway.

A Request For Qualifications (RFQ) prepared by Metro Parks Tacoma staff earlier this year—and published in the Tacoma Daily Index in July (see “Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma Request for,” Tacoma Daily Index, July 17, 2015; and “Metro Parks Tacoma seeks contractors for 2 Foss Waterway park improvement projects,” Tacoma Daily Index, July 21, 2015)—invited landscapers, architects, and engineers to respond who could offer initial design services for the two park spaces: Central Park, located at 1147 Dock St., and Waterway Park & Rowing Center, located at 2130 E. ‘D’ St., and including the Berg Scaffolding Building.

According to the RFQ, the project is expected to include a public involvement process to create walkways, picnic areas, shelters, and other general site enhancements; development of a water access Inventory & Opportunities Plan; review and update of the 2009 Adaptive Re-use Study for the Berg Scaffolding Building for use as a boathouse facility; extension of the Waterfront Esplanade; restroom facilities design; expanded parking and water access facilities; interpretive signage; landscape and garden upgrades; main line utility upgrades for water, sanitary sewer, and electrical systems; improvements to site lighting in key areas; coordination with Metro Parks Tacoma’s Percent for Art Program; cost estimating and phasing plan development; and permitting review.

The Central Park site along Thea Foss Waterway in downtown Tacoma. (PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

Metro Parks Tacoma has identified a budget range of $80,000 to $95,000 for the professional services related to this initial capital and program design effort. A total project budget has not been developed for the anticipated improvements, according to the RFQ. The work is being carried out as a partnership between the Foss Waterway Development Authority and Metro Parks Tacoma.

The Waterway Park & Rowing Center site along Thea Foss Waterway in downtown Tacoma. (PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

The deadline for contractors to respond to the RFQ expired on Thurs., Aug. 6. According to information available on Metro Parks Tacoma’s Web site, seven contractors responded to the RFQ: AHBL Miller Hull (Tacoma, Wash.); Bruce Dees & Associates (Tacoma, Wash.); HBB (Seattle, Wash.); Helix Design Group, Inc. (Tacoma, Wash.); HHJ Architects PLLC (Tacoma, Wash.); Jones + Jones (Seattle, Wash.); and Site Workshop (Seattle, Wash.).

Metro Parks Tacoma seeks contractors for 2 Foss Waterway park improvement projects

“We have just completed our interview process for [architectural and engineering] services and have selected Site Workshop Landscape Architects to be the lead along with SHKS Architects,” Metro Parks Tacoma Project Manager Doug Fraser told the Tacoma Daily Index on Wednesday. “We are in the contracting phase now and foresee getting under way with the project by mid-October, with a schematic design phase completion by end of the first [quarter of] 2016.”

To read the Tacoma Daily Index‘s complete and comprehensive coverage of Central Park and Waterway Park & Rowing Center, click on the following links: