Community Government
Doris Heritage Park to open June 16
Two new recreational facilities will host back-to-back ribbon-cuttings next week.
The city of Gig Harbor’s newest park, Doris Heritage Park, will officially open at 4 p.m. Monday, June 16. The event will be followed the next day by a ribbon-cutting for PenMet Parks’ recreation center. The ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. at 2524 14th Ave.
Doris Heritage Park, next door to the Tom Taylor Family YMCA at 10660 Harbor Hill Drive, includes an accessible playground, pickleball courts, bocce ball courts, an event lawn, performance stage, a picnic shelter and restrooms/concession building.
It is the first phase of the city’s new sports complex to open. Work recently began next door on the next phase, two synthetic-turfed, lighted sports fields being built through a partnership with the YMCA.
Doris Heritage Park is named after a Peninsula High alumna who ran in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics.
As part of the celebration, the Gig Harbor Film Festival will host a free screening of “Last Lap’ at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Galaxy Theater Uptown. The documentary explores Heritage’s career as a runner and as a coach at Seattle Pacific University.
“Last Lap” won Best Washington Made Film at the 2024 Gig Harbor Film Festival. The free screening is possible due to donations from the Galaxy and director Andy Yardy of Kinetic Village.
Across town, PenMet Parks plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new recreation center at the former Performance Golf Center site. The facility features multi-use courts, an elevated indoor track, a synthetic turf field and spaces for fitness, recreation programs and community gatherings.
Pickleball courts at Doris Heritage Park, adjacent to the Tom Taylor YMCA on Harbor Hill Drive. Photo by Vince Dice
As part of the project, the Cushman Trail is being extended from the 14th Ave. trailhead to 24th St. NW, and the existing mini-golf course revamped with Northwest-themed fixtures and obstacles.
The ribbon-cutting will be followed June 21 with grand opening celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 21. People are invited to drop in and experience the new facility.
The miniature golf course under renovation. Courtesy of PenMet Parks
There will be activities, music, food and giveaways. The official opening is July 1, though a soft opening is underway.
Shuttles will be available to and from both PenMet events. For the ribbon-cutting, they’ll stop at Ocean 5 and Henderson Bay High School, and at Gig Harbor High School for the grand opening.
The playground structure at Doris Heritage Park. Photo by Vince Dice