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Parks director outlines trail, park and community projects; board elects officers
Summary
Parks Director Chuck reviewed 2025 accomplishments and 2026 priorities including the Deschutes Valley Trail design, Trails End Park construction documents, community center design, community garden transition, and deferred maintenance projects; the board also elected Joan Kathy president and Kelly von Holtz vice president.
The Tumwater Metropolitan Park District received a year-end briefing Nov. 18 from Parks Director Chuck highlighting completed work and projects planned for 2026, and the board elected officers for the coming year.
Chuck opened with appreciation for staff and listed key accomplishments: continued design work on the Deschutes Valley Trail with wetlands considerations and interpretive planning; rehabilitation of trails at Tom Water Hill (widened back to six feet and surfaced with over 300 yards of crushed gravel); replacement of four park entrance signs; storm-drain repairs and repaving at Pioneer Park and Historical Park; and significant sports-field maintenance including irrigation efficiency work and top-dressing.
On Trails End Park, Chuck said staff completed a public master-planning process and is working with SCJ Architects to produce construction documents with an anticipated bid and build timeline into 2027. He also described ongoing community center design funded by the park district and developed with Barker Recker and CCAT, with a location decision to come in the next few months.
Chuck addressed the Fresh Farm program at Isabella Bush Park after the Tumwater School District ended its funding; the district contracted with Grub to continue student participation for the season and purchased about $2,000 of replacement equipment and a storage container when school-owned items returned to the district. He said he is negotiating with Olympia Kiwanis and other local partners to sustain the farm program going forward.
Board members proposed increased planting of pollinator species and discussed volunteer-driven planting or scouting projects tied to Earth/Arbor Day and partnerships with scouts and Kiwanis. Chuck said staff will explore integrating such volunteer efforts and report back.
During the meeting the board elected Joan Kathy as president and Kelly von Holtz as vice president in routine nominations and voice votes. After completing business, the chair moved to the public hearing on the district's levy.
The parks update was informational; no formal policy changes were adopted in this portion of the meeting.
