The Park Board has approved a contract for a landscape architect firm to begin designing features prioritized in the recently created master plan

After working with neighbors to create a vision for Peck Community Sports Park that greatly expands access and supports youth sports, Parks Tacoma is taking another step toward bringing the vision to life.

On Monday, the Park Board approved a $703,232 contract with Fora Landscape Architects to provide design support through construction of Phase 2 of the project. That will include a multi-sport field that can be used for soccer, kickball, softball or baseball; fencing around the field; and a restroom building with storage and equipment check-out space.

Fora will also be doing schematic designs for future Phase 3 park development, which will include sports courts, an open lawn, a walking trail, playground, wave wheels track and a garden.

Although there is currently no funding for Phase 3, Parks Tacoma plans to garner additional community input to start designing these features.

“We want to fulfill Peck’s potential to be a vibrant park that offers children a place to play sports or be active, as well as become a place for families and friends to gather,” said Park Board President Andrea Smith. “And it’s not just about supporting healthy, active lifestyles – it’s about creating equal access to play.”

For decades, Peck Field was fenced off and inaccessible to the community for more than half a year to protect the natural turf. Now, there will no longer be fencing around the entire park and sports fields will be programmed for community use when not being used for organized games or practices.

History of the park and project

Peck Community Sports Park is a 10-acre area that serves Central and Hilltop Tacoma. Until recently, it was a four-field ballfield complex that was primarily used by youth sports leagues.

The space has long been used for sports.

In 1907, it served as the city’s first baseball stadium and 7,500 people could gather to watch amateur baseball and softball. Then it transformed for six years into a racetrack for midget automobiles.

By 1950, it became Peck Field and Parks Tacoma began programming it in 1954, taking ownership of the park two years later.

Wanting to better serve the community and improve diversity and accessibility at Peck, Parks Tacoma adopted a master plan for the park in 2023. That work incorporated input from more than 1,400 community members who engaged through two public workshops and an interactive website.

Phase 1 of the park project, Aaron Pointer Field, opened in January in partnership with Tacoma Public Schools. It serves as home field for Stadium High School’s baseball team and is equipped with batting cages, bullpens, synthetic turf, storage facilities, fencing and ADA-accessible ramps.

Aaron Pointer Field also supports lacrosse and soccer. The field was named for former Park Commissioner Aaron Pointer, who is a former Major League Baseball player and former athletic director who spent decades mentoring kids in sports and life.

Phase 2 of the park project will include a multi-sport field and a restroom building. Construction is expected to start in summer 2026.

The $4.3 million project is funded by 2014 voter-approved bond dollars and two grants from the Washington State Departments of Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) and Commerce.

Media Contact:

Stacia Glenn, Public Information Officer
[email protected], (253) 345-0948