Puyallup Parks & Recreation Board Meeting - March 9, 2026

The Parks & Recreation Board held a regular meeting on March 9, 2026, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting covered the election of officers, approval of minutes, staff reports on the PROS Plan survey and capital projects, board comments, and discussion of future agenda items. The meeting adjourned at 6:21 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the meeting agenda as published. (Motion 5-0)
• Approved the January 12, 2026, draft minutes with a scrivener's error correction. (Motion 5-0)
• Elected Erich Weiter as Chair. (Motion 5-0)
• Elected Michael McCanna as Vice Chair after a nomination for Jerry Martin lacked a second. (Motion 5-0)

Discussion Items

• PROS Plan Survey Interim Results: Alex Campbell from AHBL presented preliminary findings from the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan survey with 599 respondents. Key findings: Bradley Lake Park most visited, Puyallup Skate Park least visited; a response gap in the 10-24 age group, though household data indicated strong representation for youth; over 75% of respondents were Puyallup residents; lack of awareness as a barrier to recreation program participation; primary information source was social media; top priorities for programming were youth, teen, and senior programs; for park facilities, maintaining existing parks, preserving wildlife habitat, and expanding trails were top priorities; amenities received lower ratings while cleanliness and attractiveness were rated highly; safety was the most important factor in choosing a park. Additional paper surveys and open-ended responses are still being processed.

• Parks Capital Project Update: Parks & Recreation Director Cody Geddes provided updates:

  • Skate Park: At 90% design; construction recommended for fall 2026 to allow one more summer of use on wood ramps.
  • Minnich Trail: Washington Trails Association volunteers to begin trail cutting; rezoning completed; easement agreement with MultiCare near finalization; trail expected to open by summer 2026.
  • Riverwalk Trail Phase 5: Broken into Phase 5A (multi-use sidewalk from Veterans Memorial Park) and Phase 5B (river connection under SR 512). Phase 5A seeking grant funding; full connection likely years away.
  • WSDOT 167 Trail Extension: On schedule; completion to Rec Center by 2028, full trail to Tacoma by 2031.
  • Bradley Lake Playground Replacement: Part of "Bradley Lake Park Reimagined"; two public open houses scheduled (March 18 and March 25); 325 survey responses already received; grant needed for funding; project targeted for spring 2027.
  • Art Projects: Nature's Medley sculpture at Veterans Park passed structural test with a two-year follow-up; Van Lierop Park cycling sculpture awaiting artist concepts (donation from a local family).
  • Flood Remediation: Applied for FEMA assistance for silt cleanup and fence repairs at Veterans Park; evaluating options for silt accumulation in DeCoursey Pond.

Board Comments

• New board member Bogdan Tirtu was welcomed by Chair Weiter and members; Tirtu expressed appreciation and noted his background in park projects with the City of Lacey.
• Board Member Spracklen raised concerns about wood chip cover at dog parks (especially Rainier Woods) retaining moisture and hygiene; suggested exploring pea gravel or other drainage solutions for future discussion.

Future Agenda Items

• Potential partnership with Puyallup School District regarding the planned closure of the high school pool (mechanical and funding issues); board to explore city options to keep the pool operational, pending ongoing public input.
• Collaboration with school music and theater departments to bring performances to parks and involve students in educational clinics, building on the existing concert series.
• Possibility of a multi-day music festival at the Recreation Center; Director Geddes agreed to investigate.
• Continued work on the PROS Plan with updates from AHBL; future meetings to include recreation programming reports and Bradley Lake playground survey results for grant application.

Key Outcomes

• Election of officers completed: Chair Erich Weiter, Vice Chair Michael McCanna.
• Approval of January 12, 2026, minutes with a scrivener’s error correction.
• Board directed staff to consider dog park surface improvements and investigate pool partnership.
• The meeting adjourned at 6:21 PM.