13 POINT DEFIANCE PARK

PROGRAM ZONES, CONCEPTS & MAPS

FOREST - PASSIVE

CENTRAL - FOREST

FORT NISQUALLY – HISTORIC

CAMP 6

BAKER TRACT

OWEN BEACH & PROMENADE

STORAGE AREA / RHODODENDRON GARDEN

ZOO & AQUARIUM

BOWL

POINT DEFIANCE MARINA

TRIANGLE

BREAKWATER MARINA

PENINSULA PARK

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PARK - WIDE

PRESERVATION OF CHARACTER• History• Environment• Infrastructure• Keeping passive areas passive by focusing more

intensive activity and parking in active area

ACTIVITIES YEAR ROUND• Programs offered throughout the year• Multi-use facilities capable of year-round use.

(I.e. Education buildings, Aquarium, Visitors Center, Concessions, enhanced picnic shelters, Lodging)

PEDESTRIAN FOCUS• Pedestrian safety• Pedestrian connections throughout the park• Park only once

FOREST

CENTRAL

PARK ENTRY & WATERFRONT

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FOREST ZONE

Enhanced activities could include:

F1. Forest - PassiveA. Eventual relocation of road, WPA picnic shelter and restrooms

due to cliff erosion

B. Possibility to make the last loop shuttle service only

C. Trail enhancements for pedestrian and educational opportunities

D. Park ambassador / interpretation

E. Open shelters / picnic areas

F. Geocaching

G. Hiking, walking and running

H. Phone apps for Park, trail and nature information

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FOREST

PARK ENTRY & WATERFRONT

CENTRAL

NarrowsViewpoint

Delco PassageViewpoint

Gig HarborViewpoint

BridgeViewpoint

Vashon IslandViewpointC

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PROGRAM ZONES, CONCEPTS & MAPS

1 Hillside 2 Vashon Island Viewpoint 3 Walking Paths

4 Gig Harbor Viewpoint 5 WPA Picnic Shelter at Gig Harbor Viewpoint 6 Narrows Viewpoint

7 Park Drive with Adjacent Walking Path 8 Bridge Viewpoint 9 Mountaineer Tree

FOREST ZONE (CONT.)

The far reaches of the park, this zone should support mostly passive activities. Park attractions within this area include: 5 Mile Drive, five pull-off viewpoints, a picnic shelter built by the WPA and restrooms, 15 miles of walking and hiking trails and the Mountaineer Tree.

The guiding goal for the Forest Zone is to manage it as a publicly accessible old growth forest, minimizing damage caused by invasive species and human impacts. Plans for this area should be driven by the underlying premise of preserving the natural woodlands and shoreline and allowing natural forest processes to proceed undisturbed where public safety and access will not be compromised.

Program Assumptions and Drivers:• Preserve, respect and enhance the integrity of the Park’s

history and natural beauty.• Protect rare, threatened and endangered species such as

the bald eagles or plant communities that exist within the Park.

• Facilitate pedestrian and bike safety, separating paths as much as possible.

• Revisit circulation for roadways and facilities as needed due to cliff erosion.

• Any new activities should reinforce a “national park” or “outdoors in the woods” theme within this zone.

• Provide opportunities for additional environmental education, conservation and interpretation.

• Maintain sanctioned trails for public access with wayfinding and interpretive signage; eliminate and re-vegetate unsanctioned trails.

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CENTRAL ZONE

Enhanced activities could include:

F2 Passive / Active Forest AreaA. Ropes Course: zipline, canopy walk and tree house extending from Area 5

to Area 2, connecting back entrance to zoo and other attractions

B. Trails and Outlooks: hiking, walking and running trail

C. Biking Path: trail dedicated to biking

1. Fort Nisqually AreaA. Fort Nisqually Site: renovate kitchen and Clerk’s House to be more historically

accurate and to support the living history museum programming

B. Native American Interpretive Center/Plank House: classroom space for education and enrichment classes, camps and public rentals, storage and staff

C. Meadow: expansion of agricultural activity, native plants, heritage trees—tie into the programming at Fort Nisqually

D. WPA Picnic Shelter: renovate shelter/pavilion for picnic rentals and continue to utilize space for educational lectures and recreational/fitness programs; develop system and connect different fitness activities into each shelter

Additional Visitor and Park Support Systems• Revisit circulation and mobilty plan• Shuttle stop location• Enhance trail system and identify an area on trail for native plants

and tree interpretation• Renovate restrooms• Seasonal concessions located near restrooms• Recognize CCC camp history; interpretive signage• Visitors Kiosk and trail map

2. Former Camp 6A. Adventure Center: multi-use facility to greet visitor from back entrance—

seasonal customer service/visitor station, space for camps and classes, etc.; check-in for rope course and adventure activities

B. Open Air Amphitheater and Stage: create a camp-like setting for outdoor performances and gathering space for large groups

C. Covered Corporate Picnic Pavilion: adjacent to a children’s playground, create space for large company and family events

Additional Visitor and Park Support Systems• Additional seasonal support parking• Public restrooms• Improved pedestrian access to other locations• Shuttle stop• Bike rentals• Visitors Kiosk and trail map

3. Baker TractA. Shelters: additional small picnic shelters to complement larger corporate

pavilion

B. Destination Children’s Playground: create a large adventure style playground that can accomodate 200 children and their families

C. Additional Active Recreation Opportunities: to extend the length of stay, consider moving tennis courts from inside park to this lower impact location, utilize courts for additional active sports (sport court concept)

D. Relocate Dog Park

E. Park Maintenance Facilities: consider expanding the existing maintenance facility with zoo

Additional Visitor and Park Support SystemsConnection from Fire Access road to both Baker Tract and Camp 6 service areasConsider expanding zoo maintenance in current location or relocating a comprehensive maintenance facility in Baker Tract

4. Owen Beach and PromenadeA. Primarily picnic beach

B. Volleyball

C. Shuttle stop

D. Replace existing restrooms and concession building with one structure that also has multi-use space; could be 2-story

E. Salmon Bake area

F. Scuba

G. Fishing

H. All types of small boating, etc

I. Kayak, paddle board, paddle boat, etc.

J. Swimming and wading

K. Extend beach/lawn access

5. Open Field / Rhododendron GardenA. Station to meet and greet visitor and secure rope course area

B. Sky bridge connecting to zoo education building

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FOREST

PARK ENTRY & WATERFRONT

CENTRAL

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PROGRAM ZONES, CONCEPTS & MAPS

1 Picnic Shelter at Owen Beach 2 Main Picnic Shelter / Playground on Bluff 3 Hillside Steep Slopes

4 Rhododendron Garden 5 Waterfront Promenade 6 Large Picnic Shelter at Rhododendron Garden

7 Off-leash Dog Park 8 Fort Nisqually Entrance 9 Fort Nisqually Grounds

CENTRAL ZONE (CONT.)

The interior of the park, this zone should support both passive and active program activities. Park attractions within this area include: Baker Tract, Off-leash Dog Park, the former Camp 6 site, Fort Nisqually, interior forest & trail system, Owen Beach and the Rhododendron Garden.

This zone in particular, needs to walk a fine line ensuring a fair balance of passive and active programming. Adding the appropriate building infrastructure will help transition from the more active and developed entryway in the southeast corner of the Park to a very passive and natural forest area in the northwest.

There is also opportunity to re-think any amenities that may not be placed in the best setting within the Park and can now be relocated to a lower impact area at the Baker Tract, as long as the move supports the identified program assumptions and drivers within the zone.

Program Assumptions and Drivers:• Any new activities should not negatively impact current

offerings; all new activities should reinforce a “national park” or “outdoors in the woods” theme within this zone.

• Enhance customer experience by improving the current back entrance for visitors.

• Provide opportunities for additional environmental education, conservation and interpretation; create expanded opportunities for more active outdoor recreation; connect children with nature.

• Address peak parking issues; incorporate shuttle system.• Create open gathering spaces for larger groups and

events.• Improve trail systems and develop a positive pedestrian

environment to connect visitors from the Mildred Street entrance to the zoo and other attractions within the Park.

• Concerted focus on park history and interpretation.

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FOREST

PARK ENTRY & WATERFRONT

CENTRAL

ENTRYWAY AND WATERFRONT ZONE

Enhanced activities could include:

6. Zoo and AquariumA. New Aquarium of 40,000 SF

B. Convert existing aquarium to South American Exhibit

C. Replace portables with a permanent Education Building

D. Expand and refurbish Polar Bear Exhibit

E. Repairs and improvements to Rocky Shores

F. Add Russian Far East Exhibit and Australia Exhibit

G. Additional parking

7. Entrance and BowlA. Roundabout at entrance

B. Playground

C. Shuttle service and stops

8. WaterfrontA. Water taxi / water sight-seeing tours

B. Multi-use space: classrooms; marine sciences; rented for functions, receptions, events, etc.

C. Improve pedestrian access to Pagoda and Zoo

9. TriangleA. New Visitor Center

B. Restaurants / food carts

C. Lodging / Convention Center

D. Educational spaces

E. Summer outdoor tented events

F. Farmer’s market / venue to host festivals / open space

G. Light rail / public busing / park shuttle

H. Phone apps for event information, park history, trails, etc.

10. Breakwater MarinaA. This is currently private. Research possibility to incorporate into

Point Defiance Marina.

11. Peninsula ParkA. Picnic shelter and restrooms

B. Playground

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PROGRAM ZONES, CONCEPTS & MAPS

1 Park Entrance 2 Park Entrance Bowl 3 Waterfront Restaurant and Docks

4 Docks and Boathouse 5 Ferry Terminal 6 Rose Garden Arbor

7 Historic Lodge 8 Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium 9 Current Triangle Functions

ENTRYWAY AND WATERFRONT ZONE (CONT.)

The entrance and core of the park, this zone should support the most active program activities. Park attractions within this area include: The Bowl, Lodge, Pagoda and various gardens, the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium (PDZA), and the area in the southeast corner, commonly called the Triangle, and currently housing temporary portables for the Tacoma School District Science and Math Institute (SAMI), the go-cart track, maintenance buildings and greenhouses. This zone also includes the roadway access to the ferry and the Point Defiance Marina along with a connection to the peninsula which has been cleaned of the contaminants left by the Asarco and is being turned into a small, passive park.

The Triangle will undergo the most obvious transformation in the next few years as the pedestrian connection from the Ruston Way waterfront is constructed with a trail and bridge extending over the street and across to the lower parking lot below the Pagoda. The go-cart track and SAMI’s portables will be removed with SAMI being housed in new multi-use structures in other areas of the park. This opens up this prime location to become the front door to the Park, creating opportunities for parking, shuttle services, new visitor center and other facilities such as restaurants, lodging, and indoor and outdoor space for large events.

PDZA will also be building a new aquarium along with other improvements that will give it a fresh new look, bringing in both new and present zoo visitors to enjoy these improvements.

Program Assumptions and Drivers:• Preserve, respect and enhance the integrity of the Park’s

history and natural beauty.• New buildings, parking and landscaping should reflect the

existing character and meld with the park.• Enhance customer experience by improving the front

entrance for visitors with the use of a roundabout at the main intersection and clear visibility to the Visitor’s Center and parking.

• Address peak parking issues; incorporate shuttle system.• Create open gathering spaces for larger groups and

events that can easily be serviced with convenient small commercial uses such as concessions, restaurants, indoor meeting spaces and lodging.

• Encourage year round use of facilities and spaces.• Provide opportunities for additional environmental

education, conservation and interpretation.• Improve trail systems and develop a positive pedestrian

environment to connect visitors from Ruston Way into the Park, creating a no-vehicle-conflict path throughout.