Community Health & Wellness Sports

PenMet recreation center opening July 1

PenMet Park’s new recreation center will open on July 1, the district announced in a press release Thursday.

Health & Wellness Sponsor

Health and Wellness stories are made possible in part by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, a proud sponsor of Gig Harbor Now.

The 58,000-square-foot building is at 2524 14th Avenue, just west of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge on the site of the former Performance Golf Center. The 17-acre campus features a regulation-size synthetic indoor turf field; three multipurpose courts striped for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball; an indoor walking and jogging track; two multi-purpose rooms; an outdoor event lawn/youth soccer field; a Cushman Trail extension from the 14th Avenue trailhead to 24th Street NW; and a reimagined 18-hole miniature golf course with Pacific Northwest themes.

Sketch of the front entrance to the PenMet community recreation center. Courtesy of PenMet Parks Courtesy of PenMet Parks

“The completion of the recreation center realizes our shared vision for an inclusive facility that supports the well-being of the whole community,” said Board of Commissioners President Laurel Kingsbury. “The recreation center will significantly enhance PenMet Parks’ ability to meet our community’s need for safe and fun recreation that is accessible to all ages and abilities.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 17. A grand opening celebration featuring activities, music, food and tours is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 21. More details about these events will be announced soon, the press release stated. Soft-opening activities with limited hours and services at the rec center and mini golf course are planned for the month of June.

The miniature golf course under renovation with the administration building in the background. Courtesy of PenMet Parks

The recreation center was designed by Barker Rinker Seacat and built by Jody Miller Construction. The total project cost for it and the Cushman Trail extension is $31.6 million, the majority of which has been funded by PenMet Parks district residents. Additional funding was provided by the Washington State Legislature, a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program–Trails Category grant from the Recreation and Conservation Office, and private donors.

• Take a virtual hard hat tour of the PenMet Parks Recreation Center.
• Read more information about the PenMet Parks Recreation Center.