More lighting, parking planned for Tacoma's Chinese Reconciliation Park

March 20, 2015 9:02 am
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Site plans for the third phase of Tacoma's Chinese Reconciliation Park. (IMAGE COURTESY CITY OF TACOMA)
Site plans for the third phase of Tacoma's Chinese Reconciliation Park. (IMAGE COURTESY CITY OF TACOMA)

Tacoma residents could soon notice upgrades and improvements to the Chinese Reconciliation Park, which overlooks Commencement Bay and commemorates the expulsion of more than 200 Chinese people from their Tacoma homes and businesses on Nov. 3, 1885.

The park, which opened in 2011, currently includes a garden, winding foot paths, bridge, Ting pavilion gifted by the City of Fuzhou, sea wall, public art, interpretive displays, and recreation areas.

Work could begin soon on the park’s third phase, which will add approximately 30 parking spaces to the existing parking lot, remove approximately 1,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil currently stockpiled on site under the Schuster Parkway Bridge, and add amenities such as signage, a bamboo wall with a Chinese motif, plants, and lighting, according to a Feb. 27 memo prepared by City of Tacoma staff. The City put the project out for bid in December (see “Tacoma Bid Watch: Chinese Reconciliation Park, Sheridan Elementary Safe Route, and sidewalk improvements,” Tacoma Daily Index, Dec. 16, 2014). The bid deadline expired in January, and six contractors submitted bids (see “Tacoma Bid Watch: Chinese Reconciliation Park update, transient camp cleanups, and ADA improvements,” Tacoma Daily Index, Jan. 29, 2015). T. Miller Construction of Auburn, Wash., submitted the lowest bid, according to City staff. The project is largely being paid for thanks to a major grant from the Washington State Historical Society (see “Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park awarded $388K heritage grant,” Tacoma Daily Index, Aug. 6, 2013).

Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote on a purchase resolution to award a $404,242.51 contract to T. Miller Construction during a public meeting at 5 p.m. on Tues., March 24, at Tacoma City Hall. Copies of the resolution and staff memo are available online here and here, respectively.

To read the Tacoma Daily Index’s complete and comprehensive coverage of Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park, click on the following links:

Site plans for the third phase of Tacoma's Chinese Reconciliation Park. (IMAGE COURTESY CITY OF TACOMA)

Site plans for the third phase of Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park. (IMAGE COURTESY CITY OF TACOMA)

Site plans for the third phase of Tacoma's Chinese Reconciliation Park. (IMAGE COURTESY CITY OF TACOMA)

Site plans for the third phase of Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park. (IMAGE COURTESY CITY OF TACOMA)

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