Community Government

Council members pick Crescent Creek Park, downtown revitalization as top capital priorities

Money might be tight, but the city of Gig Harbor is not putting all of its projects on hold. At a study session on July 16, Gig Harbor City Council members used ranked-choice voting to prioritize capital projects over the next two years.

Their top choices included remodeling Crescent Creek Park and revitalizing downtown. Council members’ choices will help to shape the final budget draft city staff will create this year.

The council ranked options in two categories: Parks projects and street projects.

Parks projects

Council members chose from among parks projects, including design and permitting for Phase 1A of the Crescent Creek Park revamp and the fifth phase of a Cushman Trail extension. Options also included smaller portions of projects, such as a community proposal to remodel the Masonic Lodge at Crescent Creek Park and a Love Lock installation to replace locks the city had to remove from the bridge over Donkey Creek.

Among the top-ranking projects were the Phase 1A design and permitting for Crescent Creek Park; renovations to the restroom there; connecting Cushman Trail to Harborview Drive; and stabilizing the barn at Wilkinson Farm park. Next on the list was design and permitting for the fifth phase of the Cushman Trail.

Engineering and remodeling the Masonic Lodge got just two votes, as did design and permitting for the second phase of the Gig Harbor Sports Complex. No council members voted for cleaning up and removing the foundation of a house that burned down in what is now the txʷaalqəł Conservation Area.

Streets projects

Streets projects included design plans, intersection improvements, and streetlight and sign installations.

Council members ranked them based on factors including how long it might take to complete a project and whether overlapping projects of the same type would create traffic snags.

Projects receiving the most votes from council members included design for a Harborview Drive Downtown Revitalization project, design for the intersection of Harborview Drive and Pioneer Way and finalized design for improvements to 50th St. Ct.

The revitalization project would involve pavement maintenance and repair on Harborview Drive, Americans With Disabilities Act upgrades, beautification and improved sidewalk and bicycle facilities. Design work would cost an estimated $800,000 and could begin in 2027-28.