Community Sports

Gig Harbor Sports Fields thriving in opening months

The new Gig Harbor Sports Fields have become one of the most active spaces in the South Sound since they opened in April.

A partnership between the city of Gig Harbor and the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties built the two artificial turf fields to give the Gig Harbor community more access to outdoor recreation. They are adjacent to the Tom Taylor YMCA on Harbor Hill Drive.

A range of public dollars and private donations covered the $7 million price tag to build the fields.

Fields full of life from opening day

On any given afternoon or evening, you will likely find people playing soccer, flag football and other sports there.

YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties marketing and communications director Jacklyn Ruckle estimated that 100 to 200 people use the facility every day. Many of them are between the ages of 4 and 18.

“We’re in the early days of serving the community and looking forward to going through the first four seasons of play,” Ruckle said. “Some of our biggest users right now are Harbor Soccer and Gridiron Flag Football.”

The Gig Harbor Sports Fields opened in April adjacent to the Tom Taylor YMCA. Photo by Nathan Hyun

The fields are also beginning to expand beyond youth programming. The YMCA plans to launch adult flag football leagues and has already hosted private community events on the turf.

Ruckle said feedback has largely been positive. The YMCA is also adjusting operations as needed, including securing field equipment.

“During community hours, we did experience some vandalism to goals, which are costly to replace. Now, we lock up that equipment, which is a point of community feedback,” Ruckle said.

Designed as a multi-use community hub

The city and the Y designed the Gig Harbor Sports Fields as a multi-use facility capable of supporting a wide range of activities.

Ruckle emphasized that the design reflects a balance between versatility and community need.

“The fields can be used for football, soccer, lacrosse, little league T-ball, and modified rugby,” she said.

Ruckle acknowledged that the fields’ narrower layout creates limitations for some sports. But the YMCA is “open to bettering the playability of the fields.”

Harbor Soccer Club is one of the facility’s biggest users, though not all of its teams can play there.

“The YMCA fields are legal, but for certain leagues we aren’t able to play on them,” a club representative said. “Nothing wrong about how they sized it. Certain leagues have different rules. The fields are great and they serve their purpose.”

The representative added that the fields have been a valuable addition to the community, even as different levels of play require different accommodations.

Owned by city, managed by YMCA

That multi-use approach was central to the project since its early planning stages. The city bought the land in 2017 as part of a long-term vision for a larger sports complex, which also includes nearby amenities such as Doris Heritage Park.

The YMCA now operates and maintains the fields under a long-term lease agreement, managing scheduling and programming. The city retains ownership of the land.

City Parks Manager Jennifer Haro described the arrangement as a collaborative partnership focused on expanding recreational access.

The Gig Harbor Sports Fields complex can be used for soccer, football, t-ball and other sports. Photo by Nathan Hyun

“The fields are busy. They’re providing more field space for our growing community,” Haro said. “It’s great to drive by and see them full.”

Haro also noted that the city did not directly determine field dimensions or sport-specific configurations during construction. Project partners made those decisions through the planning and consulting processes.

Growing into the future of Gig Harbor Sports

As the fields continue to mature through their first full year of operations, both the YMCA and city leaders see the facility as an evolving community asset.

Ruckle said the YMCA is still in the early stages of understanding how the fields will be used across all four seasons, but flexibility remains central. While Harbor Soccer and other youth programs make up a significant portion of use, additional leagues and organizations continue to be added as space becomes available.

That openness to adjustment is echoed by YMCA Executive Director Jean-Luc Pedanou.

“While youth sports will remain at the heart of the facility, we’re also exploring additional ways to activate the space through adult recreation, community wellness programs, fitness events, family activities, and special community gatherings,” Pedanou said.