Community Government Sports

Council likely to name first phase of Sports Complex after Doris Brown Heritage

The Gig Harbor City Council appears likely to name Phase 1B of the new Sports Complex, which is taking shape on Harbor Hill Drive, after a local running legend.

The council asked staff to prepare a resolution adopting the wordy moniker of “Doris Brown Heritage Park at the Gig Harbor Sports Complex” for the park near the Tom Taylor Family YMCA. The council will officially vote to adopt the name on April 28.

Heritage grew up on a family homestead just east of the Fox Island Bridge. She made the U.S. Olympic teams in 1968 and 1972 and was a multiple-time national champion in various track and cross country events.

The park will feature pickleball and bocce ball courts, a playground, covered stage, event lawn, restrooms, concession stand and other amenities. The city expects the park to open next month.

Related story: Legendary Doris Heritage just loved to run

Doris or Gertie?

The council picked Doris Brown Heritage Park over the city Parks Commission’s recommendation of Gertie Park. Gertie Park would honor the original Narrows Bridge, which collapsed during a windstorm in 1940.

Mayor Mary Barber cast the deciding vote after the council deadlocked. The mayor only votes to break a council tie.

Doris Heritage coached 20 All-Americans in 39 years at Seattle Pacific University. Photo courtesy of Doris Heritage

Council members Le Rodenberg, Seth Storset and Em Stone voted for Doris Brown Heritage Park. Jeni Woock, Roger Henderson and Ben Carbonado preferred Gertie. Councilmember Reid Ekberg was absent.

Barber later told Gig Harbor Now she voted to name the park for Brown “because, from what I’ve read, she’s a remarkable woman who could be a standard-bearer for young women today.

“Peninsula High School wouldn’t let her run track, but she went on to run in the Olympics, and I think she’s coaching girls track today,” Barber said. She added that she thinks it’s appropriate to name the park “after an athlete who can inspire our young people. That’s what a name should do.”

Longtime SPU coach

Heritage, at 83 years old, no longer coaches track. But she did for many years at Seattle Pacific University, also her alma mater. Heritage, who now lives in Stanwood, told Gig Harbor Now in 2023 that she was experiencing the early stages of dementia.

“I have so many friends that still live in Gig Harbor,” she said in that December 2023 story. “I really loved growing up there. It is such a beautiful place. There are a lot of winners from that town.”

Doris Heritage finished fifth in the Olympic Games in 1968. Photo courtesy of Doris Heritage

The public submitted 24 name suggestions for the new park. The parks commission picked three finalists — Gertie Park, Canoe (q̓il̕bid in the Lootshootseed language of the Puyallup Tribe) and Swift Water Park — and sent those three names to the council for a final decision.

The council picked Gertie Park during a March 13 study session meeting. A week later, the council switched gears and asked the commission to reconsider names of three individuals that had also been submitted.

Other names considered

Those names were Hugh McMillan, a beloved newspaper columnist and volunteer who died in 2023; Terry Lee, a former Pierce County Council member and PenMet Parks director who died last year; and Brown. Commissioners voted April 2 to stick with their recommendation of Gertie Park.

On Monday, after lengthy discussion, the council rejected Gertie and opted for Doris.

Groundbreaking for the next section of the sports complex, currently called Phase 1A, will take place May 3. That phase is being funded primarily by the YMCA.

Construction of the Gig Harbor Sports Complex Phase 1B on Jan. 21, 2025.

Comp plan approved

Also Monday, the council approved an update to the city’s comprehensive plan and unanimously approved annexation of two properties adjacent to Crescent Creek Park. The council also approved adjustments to the city’s personnel salary schedule to reflect the reclassification of the position of “court clerk” to “clerk assistant.”

The council meets for a study session at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the community rooms at the Civic Center on Grandview Street. The agenda includes discussion about a parking study, revisions to the Gig Harbor BoatShop’s lease and more. Council meetings can be viewed on Zoom.