You'll Like Pugnetti Park

Over the weekend, the fence came down around the once obscure little park that has in recent months been brought into the public conversation.  Pugnetti Park opened again to the public, just in time for the Daffodil Parade: a great 25th anniversary present for the little park. 

Pugnetti Park, named in 1987 for long-time Tacoma civic leader and former TNT editor Don Pugnetti, is owned by WSDOT, having come into being as a part of the construction of I-705.  The park became the site of the Occupy Tacoma encampment last October, and remained occupied through this February, thanks to that little quirk of ownership – WSDOT isn’t typically in the business of running parks, and so didn’t have established rules or procedures for dealing with something like the encampment.  When WSDOT evicted the Occupiers it put up a fence, citing liability concerns.  The fence remained up, supposedly pending the sale of the property. 

At the April 10 City Council Citizens’ Forum, the Council was presented with a petition requesting that the park be saved, and we heard from Councilmember Fey that there was a commitment within the City to preserving the park as an open space one way or another. 

Then, this Friday, the fence came down.  According to a TNT article, WSDOT and Metro Parks are in talks over a deal to maintain the park.  In the meantime, a sign has been posted warning would-be park users that they enter at their own risk, and setting a number of rules for use of the space.  All that seems like it will probably be fine with the many petition signers.  Based on the number who wrote comments about how much they look forward to eating their lunches there, maybe a picnic table or two would be a welcome addition…

Previously from Exit133: Save Pugnetti Park?