2019 Finished

Titlow Garage

The existing 20’x20’ Titlow garage was expanded to add 400 sq ft storage capacity. This addition improved the storage layout for Outdoor Recreation and Parks maintenance by doubling the garage size and updating the existing exterior siding, adding new doors, roofing, concrete slab, electrical upgrades and improved security.

 2017 Finished

Kay’s house removal and shoreline restoration

A $597,000 project to restore the shoreline, improve fish and wildlife habitat and expand the public recreation area at Titlow Park allows more room to explore via the adjacent Hidden Beach trail.

The nonprofit South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group spearheaded the project, which entailed demolition of a vacant beach house and removal of contaminated soils so the area can be returned to a natural state.

What was informally known as Kay’s house was located near the south end of the trail, north of Steamers Seafood Café. The single-story house was once the home of a Titlow Park caretaker and his wife.

In 2016, a contractor razed the house, its garage, an attached boathouse, a bulkhead, and took out an underground septic system and storage tanks.

Additionally, soil contaminated by airborne pollutants from the former Asarco copper smelter in Ruston was removed from the site. The house also contained harmful asbestos components.

The embankment where the house stood has been reshaped to a more natural slope which was stabilized with native plants.

In 1969, Parks Tacoma acquired the house, which has been vacant since 2004. One of the conditions of the acquisition was that its occupants, James and Kay Irwin, be allowed to reside there as long as they lived.

The house removal project is part of Parks Tacoma’ 2010 Titlow Park master plan. Besides demolition, the plan calls for eventual creation of a picnic meadow and viewing deck on the site. This project did not include funds for those future improvements, but additional positive changes regarding Titlow Park will be announced by Parks Tacoma soon.

The South Sound Salmon Enhancement Group received money for the project from the federal Environmental Protection Agency, by way of the Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant Program, administered by the state Recreation and Conservation Office. Parks Tacoma contributed $75,000 derived from capital improvement bonds approved by voters in 2014.

2014 Finished

Trail & Way Finding Signage

Trailheads were improved. Way finding signage was added to select main trails. The trailhead and way finding sign package is based on the design for trail signage that has been developed for Parks Tacoma’s Natural Areas.

Trail improvements, interpretive signage and other site furniture may be included in this project. Work was funded by the Parks Improvement Bond Measure, approved by the citizens of Tacoma in November of 2005.

2013 Finished

Ecology Soil Remediation Program

Completed through an inter-agency agreement with the Department of Ecology. Most of the work at Titlow was directly behind the Lodge. Cleanup also includes a small area near Kay’s house.
Project Status 12/13/13: DOE soil remediation is complete.
Project Manager: Department of Ecology (also paying for all of the work)
Parks Tacoma Project Administrator: Roger Stanton; (253) 305-1082

2013 Finished

Removal of Titlow Pool

On September 24, 2012, Board members passed a resolution authorizing a project budget to move forward with the demolition of Titlow Pool. The demolition project leaves the site with basic accessible pathways, irrigated turf and code-required surface water improvements.
Demolition: STETZ Construction

2012 Finished

Playground/Sprayground Project
Design was done by Site Workshop. Construction was done by Nordic Construction.