Sumner staff to seek funding for combined Heritage Park phases after council signals support

Sumner city staff told the City Council during a July 28 study session that Phase 2 of the downtown Heritage Park project is under construction and that Phases 3 and 4 could be combined into a single construction effort if council supports pursuing funding.

The update, led by Communications Director Carmen Palmer and Community and Economic Development Director Ryan Windows, outlined how the project evolved from the Main Street Vision plan and described Phase 1 as completed, Phase 2 as underway, Phase 3 as bid-ready and Phase 4 at about 60% design. A project team member reported a current engineering estimate of about $22,000,000 in construction costs for the combined park and building in today’s prices.

City staff said the Phase 2 work — including utilities and Hop’s Alley — is being paid largely with Pierce County lodging-tax funds, Sumner lodging-tax monies and some Sound Transit contributions. Staff identified potential funding…