December 2012 Treasured icon to open soon Tacoma awoke to devastating news on April 15, 2011. TV helicopters were circling Point Defiance Park as firefighters battled ablaze that appeared to be consuming one of Tacoma s most treasured historic icons. The community listened as reporters shared the heartbreaking news that an arsonist had set fire to the nearly century-old Pagoda. By the time the fire was extinguished, the Pagoda had sustained extensive damage. About a third of the building s distinctive roof tiles were broken, exterior gables and interior wood beams charred, and most of the furniture and fixtures were a loss. As tragic as the fire was, it served as a reminder of the importance of this iconic community treasure. Hundreds if not thousands of phone calls and online comments poured in to Metro Parks and various news outlets throughout the area. The community made clear that they valued the Pagoda as a public asset and wanted to see the building restored as quickly as possible. Even before the calls began pouring in, Metro Parks leadership had sprung into action. As firefighters battled the blaze, Executive Director Wilson made an emergency declaration that had specialists on site to immediately assess and begin remediation to prevent further damage to the historic building materials. As a result, the majority of Pagoda s nearly 100-year-old historic fabric survived. Fast forward a year and a half: After 18 months of hard work by contractors to restore and bring the historic structure into current code compliance, the Pagoda renovation is nearly complete. Great care was taken to salvage as much historic material as possible. About two-thirds of the roof tiles, were removed, cleaned and placed back on the restored roof. Molds were made from the old tiles, and a company that has been in business since the early 1900s manufactured replacements, authentically preserving one of the Pagoda s most distinctive features. Thanks to the swift action taken to begin remediation as soon as the fire had been suppressed, the original tile flooring, marble stairs and even the wooden windows, were preserved and restored before any permanent smoke damage was able to set in. When the building reopens in January, the upper level will remain an open, inviting space to accommodate the same types of events that the public has enjoyed there for more than 50 years. Upgrades include improved ADA accessibility, better heating, a renovated restroom, and kitchen updates that include commercial-grade equipment and a new caterer-friendly design. continued> Board of Park Commissioners: Larry Dahl, Tim Reid, Aaron Pointer, Erik Hanberg, Andrea Smith Executive Director: Jack C. Wilson
Among the most significant transformations were those made to the lower level. Previously, a significant portion of this space was unfinished, providing only limited public use and access. During renovation, emphasis was placed on creating new opportunities for the public to use the lower level. New amenities include flexible meeting space, which can be divided into smaller break-out rooms, or used as a multipurpose space to accommodate larger activities. A support kitchen, storage rooms and renovated restrooms complete the new space. ADA upgrades also make the lower level much more accessible than the previous configuration. Code updates required some work to the exterior to be performed, that provided an opportunity to recreate a plaza like the one which historically was located on the streetcar side of the building. This area has been transitioned from the few parking stalls which detracted greatly from the building s architecture. Converting the space back to a plaza once again offers a breathtaking viewpoint where Puget Sound and island views serve as the backdrop for the Japanese Garden that surrounds the Pagoda. A grand reopening community event is scheduled for January 12 from 2-5 pm. Join us as we launch another century of wonderful memories created within the Point Defiance Pagoda! Winter s about to become a lot more FUN STAR Center to open Urban Adventures covered playground STAR Center s unique covered playground is the last of the three components that make up STAR Center s Urban Adventures area. Urban Adventures includes a Tot Trek Gym for 2 to 5-year-olds, an indoor adventure playground that targets 4 to 8-year-olds and the new covered area designed for children ages 7 to 12+. Each play area is designed to appeal to the different stages of childhood development, but together, Urban Adventures provides a variety of age-appropriate, year-round family play opportunities. The new covered play area was designed and installed by Dillon Works of Mukilteo and features a tire climb, curved slide, wiggly bridge, tree lookout, net climb, crawl bridge, v-net bridge, plank bridge and several wall-mounted interactive features all on a four-inch rubberized Spectrapour safety turf. All of the play components in this area were chosen to appeal to older elementary-age children and designed to challenge their physical and cognitive skills while being safe and inclusive. The indoor and covered play areas interconnect and operate on the same schedule so children can easily play in the area that best fits their age and interest. The Tot Trek gym and preschool play areas also maintain the same hours, but are partially separated so younger children don t compete with older children for play space. Parents have the opportunity to interact with children as they play or use the gym facilities while their children are supervised and play games with staff. All play areas within the Urban Adventures area include periodic, semi-organized games and activities. In addition, the playgrounds are used for a monthly special Kids Night Out and other Center events. The spaces are also available for birthday parties or team parties. Access to Urban Adventures is available to those who have a STAR Center monthly Family Pass or Urban Adventure Pass. Those who purchase an individual or family day pass may also use these specialized facilities. STAR Center also welcomes groups from the Boys & Girls Club s Topping Hope Center as part of its ongoing facility sharing across SERA Campus. Zoo, Zoo, Zoom! Two new zip line/challenge courses to debut at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium during 25 th annual Zoolights Zoolights will soar to new heights this year. Literally. Two new zip line/challenge courses will debut at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium during the 25 th annual edition of the beloved holiday event. They ll bring a new dimension of excitement to Zoolights for kids as young as 5, with appeal for a range of ages, including adventure-craving adults. The courses will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5-8 pm during the Zoolights run, which begins Nov. 23 and ends on Jan. 1. And once the twinkling lights are gone, the new attraction called ZOOM will remain for year-round fun.
ZOOM features two courses: A Super Kid version that s relatively low to the ground and a higher Discovery circuit that rises 30 feet into the trees. The two circuits are cousins to popular zip line/challenge courses that opened at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park during the summer. There are some family resemblances, but the courses at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium are quite different than those at Northwest Trek. They re laid out differently, the challenges vary and the overall experience is distinctive. The Super Kid version of ZOOM is sized for kids 5 and up. The more challenging Discovery course is for ages 8 and up. It s not strictly kid stuff; adults will enjoy it, too. Each requires some degree of agility and tests participants mental and physical toughness. Conquering one of them leaves the rider with thrilling memories and a great sense of accomplishment. Not to mention the I want to do it again! cries that will be instantly heard around zoo grounds. For more information visit www.pdza.org/zoom. 25th annual edition of Zoolights lights up holiday-season Zoolights, a Tacoma holiday-season tradition since 1988, opened the day after Thanksgiving at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium to bring light to the night and a warm glow to visitors hearts. The 25 th annual edition of Zoolights is unmatched in the Puget Sound area. No other outdoor event boasts more than 80 lighted zoo-animal figurines and multiple-piece scenes, half a million lights and a quarter-century of dedication to providing families from across Washington with affordable, holidayseason family entertainment. Zoolights runs from Nov. 23 through Jan. 1 and is open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. every evening except Dec. 24. Discounted tickets are available at www.pdza.org and all Puget Sound-area Fred Meyer stores. Visitors will ooh and ahh at the half-million lights strung around the zoo, on shrubbery and in trees and, of course, outlining elephants and tigers and bears, oh my! In addition to longtime visitor favorites like the gorgeous green-and-purple Flame Tree, the twin Tacoma Narrows bridges, an eagle swooping down to catch a salmon, ice skating puffins and dozens of other colorfully lighted animals, there s a lot new at Zoolights this year. A 24,000-light, 100-foot Giant Pacific Octopus sits atop the North Pacific Aquarium, a huge addition to Zoolights this year. ZOOM, a complex of two challenge and zip line courses, will open in a wooded area of the zoo. The Super Kid and Discovery courses will test mental toughness and physical agility for kids as young as 5 all the way up through adventure-seeking adults of any age. Four-month old cubs Berani, a Malayan tiger, and Dumai, a Sumatran tiger, will be on exhibit during Zoolights. They re not just adorable, they re wonderful ambassadors for their endangered species. Scuba-diving Santa is back for an encore in 2012. He will be in full Santa suit as he swims with the sharks, delighting aquarium visitors at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the Zoolights run. He does, however, have things to do on Dec. 25, so he won t make an appearance that night. And he s taking Jan. 1 off to rest up. Several areas of the zoo will be open for animal viewing, and visitors can watch meerkats, goats and other creatures. In addition, both aquariums will be open, showcasing a variety of marine creatures from sharks to otherworldly moon jellies and an octopus. The aquariums also provide a great place to warm up after wandering along the outdoor lighted pathways. And, as always, there will be carousel and camel rides, hot chocolate, espresso and a variety of other treats available for purchase. Hot, spiced apple cider also is on the menu. And there s a mouthwatering new treat called Fudge Puppies, which are waffles on a stick, dipped in chocolate and then served with chocolate sprinkles or nuts.
Zoolights is presented by Fred Meyer with support from Russell Investments, Tacoma Power, Mary Bridge Children s Hospital & Health Center and KING 5. Visit www.pdza.org/zoolights for more information. Here s a list of fun facts about Zoolights: 2 million estimated visitors since 1987; 1.3 million of them since 1997 500,000-plus lights strung around the zoo 27 miles of light strings about the distance between Tacoma and Seattle 4 miles of extension cords 75,000 lights to make figurines 350,000 lights for ground cover and bushes 110,000 lights on pathways around the zoo 80-plus figurines/displays arranged around the zoo 1 Giant Pacific Octopus atop the North Pacific Aquarium 24,000 lights make the giant octopus glow 100 foot span on the Giant Pacific Octopus 30,030 lights on the iconic flame tree (20,000 purple, 10,000 green) 13 amps to make the Flame Tree glow (down from 90 amps before LED lights were put into use) 1 extension cord to power the flame tree (down from 9 before LED lights) 90-plus percent of all the lights are energy-efficient LEDs 8 people to power up the lights every afternoon 125 switches flipped to bring the magic to life every afternoon 2 months to install the magic of Zoolights every year Billions and billions of smiles and squeals of delight in 25 years Just in time for the holidays! It s a perfect gift for family and friends who love Point Defiance Park. This pictorial history boasts more than 200 vintage images and provides readers with a unique opportunity to reconnect with the history that shaped their community. Authors Melissa McGinnis and Doreen Beard-Simpkins have researched the history of Tacoma s parks for more than 20 years as employees of Metro Parks Tacoma. Together they have authored two previous Metro Parks books published by Arcadia s Images of America series, including: Tacoma s Parks (2007), Celebrating the independent park agency s centennial Tacoma s Wright Park (2008), A retrospective of a grand dame s restoration. For more than a century, the citizens of Tacoma have valued Point Defiance Park as a forested refuge and an urban oasis. The community treasures its history and ecology as the crown jewel of the city s public spaces. Ancient forest continues to cover the majority of the park s 700-plus acres. Attractions of the past, a saltwater swimming pool, riding stables and an amusement park delighted earlier generations though they are now long gone. The first boathouses, early zoological collections and gardens near the park s entrance date back to the 1890s and now greet visitors in modern form. Today s park amenities are designed to foster appreciation for the rich historic and environmental heritage of Tacoma s Great Pride and serve an estimated two million visitors annually. Historic images from both private and public collections highlight this memorable walk in the park through a beloved civic preserve. Highlights of Tacoma s Point Defiance Park include: Tacoma s Sound Shore Retreat Handsome Ferneries, Golden Glories and a Velvet Sward A Splendid Collection of Birds and Animals The Forest, Hard Times and a Fort
Meet the authors and get your books signed from 11am-4pm at Fort Nisqually s 19th Century Christmas on December 1. Books are available at Metro Parks Headquarters, Point Defiance Boathouse Marina, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum Visitor Center, Tacoma Nature Center as well as other local retail outlets. Public Meetings in December Board of Park Commissioners Meeting Monday, December 10 & 24; 6 pm A five member Board of Park Commissioners governs Metro Parks Tacoma and is the policy determining body for the park district. Board meetings are normally held at 6 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. Capital Improvement Committee Wednesday, December 12 & 26; 6 pm This committee meets every Wednesday that follows a Board meeting to review, influence, facilitate and monitor the capital improvement program, including bond projects, for the district. Committee of the Whole Monday, December 17; 6 pm These meetings are normally held at 6 p.m. on the 3rd and 5th (if there is one) Mondays of each month. All five Board members are scheduled to attend. The public is welcome to attend, however there is no public comment. SERA Campus Sprayground Project Public Meeting #2 Monday, December 17; 6 pm Boys & Girls Club, 3875 S. 66th St., Room 136 Come review plans and share comments about improvements to the SERA Campus sprayground and playground. Destination Point Defiance 3 rd Thursday Community Dialogues Thursday, December 20; 5:30 pm Join us for monthly conversation about both near-term and long-range plans for Point Defiance Park. Wipe out weather worries by visiting Web site Winter and its usual weather worries will soon be upon us. There is no need to wonder if your meeting, recreation class or other Metro Parks function is being held as usual. Simply visit metroparkstacoma.org, if there are weather-related closures or delays an alert icon will appear on the home screen. Simply click it to get a one-stop look at all facilities and building closures. Persons without internet access can call (253) 305-1062 for up-to-date building and program closure information. Mark the Date Metro Parks Winter/Spring calendar coming December 21 Wish you had more time for fun, fitness and adventure in your life? Our Winter/Spring calendar offers event and recreation ideas in a handy format to help you plan your busy days. Look for the calendar insert in your home-delivered News Tribune on December 21 or pick one up at the Metro Parks main office, community centers, area-wide libraries and other participating locations after December 28. Don t want to wait? Download it today from our website! MetroParksTacoma.org/Publications.
Holiday Gifts You Can DO! Engage in mindful giving this holiday season. You can feel good about giving gifts that reflect your environmental values, while providing opportunities to DO stuff rather than GET stuff. The people on your list will appreciate your gift when you present them with the opportunity to take a class or workshop, reap the benefits of various Metro Parks memberships, attend a special event, or shop in a Metro Parks gift shop. Metro Parks Gift Cards are available in amounts of $20 and over and can be used for recreation classes, runs/walks, facility rentals, picnic shelter rentals, Point Defiance Marina purchases, rentals and fees, Fort Nisqually admissions, purchases & facility rentals and Tacoma Nature Center admissions, purchases & facility rentals. To learn more about Metro Parks Gift Card visit MetroParksTacoma.org/GiftCard. Metro Parks' seven themed gift shops provide a great way to SHOP LOCAL while pleasing all the people on your holiday list! A memberships is the gift that keeps on giving. In addition to admission, members at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Seymour Conservatory, etc., receive benefits such as class or gift shop discounts, newsletters and priority admission to special events So pour a cup of eggnog, sit back, and do your holiday shopping with Metro Parks Tacoma. Visit MetroParksTacoma.org/Holiday to get gift ideas for everyone on your list. Holiday fun runs fun for the whole family Take a break from holiday hustle and bustle and enjoy three unique holiday fun runs with your family and friends: Jingle Bell Run, the Last Mile and First Run. Jingle Bell Run is a refreshing 3 mile run/walk through Wright Park at 1:30 pm on December 24. Entry fee is $10 and includes chip timing and jingle bells. Registration closes December 20. Bring nonperishable food for St. Leo s Food Bank or old running shoes for the Tacoma Rescue Mission. The Last Mile begins at 6 pm on December 31 and leads the parade that kicks off downtown Tacoma s First Night celebration! The Last Mile is a one mile run/walk and is not chip-timed. The entry fee of $5 includes a free beverage at Varsity Grill. The First Run starts at 11 am on January 1 near the Point Defiance Marina. This flat, fast mile is free and open to all ages. Afterwards, take a leap into 2013 by participating in the Polar Bear Plunge, held at 11:30 am at the Point Defiance public boat launch. More information and online registration for each event can be found at www.metroparkstacoma.org/races. Plunge into 2013 at the coolest event of the year Point Defiance Marina hosts second annual Polar Bear Plunge Kick off the new year with a cool tradition a refreshing plunge into invigorating Puget Sound! Jump into the water with other jubilant merrymakers at the Polar Bear Plunge on January 1 at Point Defiance Marina. Trade your winter coat for a swimsuit and go knee high, waist deep or take the full plunge! The Cub Plunge, for youth under 10 years of age, begins at 11:30 am, followed by an Adult/Family Plunge at noon. Costumes are welcome but not required. The event is free and takes place rain or shine at the Point Defiance boat launch, located at 5912 N. Waterfront Drive in Point Defiance Park. Daring folks who jump in can warm up afterwards in front of heaters while sipping free hot drinks. Polar Bear Plunge proved to be wildly popular last year. Those brave enough to jump into Puget Sound ranged from small children to the more mature, from costumed to fully clothed. A bridal-gownwearing participant took the plunge with complete gusto, much to the delight of the cheering crowd!
Extend the fun and warm up before the Polar Bear Plunge by participating in First Run, a newly created event that features a flat, fast one-mile run/walk near the Point Defiance Marina. First Run is free and begins at 11 am, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the Polar Bear Plunge afterwards. No registration is necessary to participate in the First Run. Point Defiance Marina has anchored the northeast side of Point Defiance Park since 1944, when it replaced the original boathouse pavilion of the early 1900s. While down at the waterfront stop by to browse the gift shop, rent a boat or sign up for a boating or fishing class. For more information visit PointDefianceMarina.com or call (253) 591-5325. Recycle your holiday lights! Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is continuing its holiday lights recycling program this year. We hope to keep thousands of strings of lights out of the landfill and make some money for conservation while we're at it. Last year was a brilliant success, so let's make this year even brighter! If you have old holiday lights cluttering up your closet, don t throw them away. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium staff can recycle your lights and use the proceeds to help support conservation programs. You ll not only reduce what goes to the landfill, you ll also help provide important education and outreach. Look for the Zoolights recycling bins when you drop lights off at these Metro Parks locations: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Metro Parks headquarters, Tacoma Nature Center, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, People s Neighborhood Center and Center at Norpoint. For more information visit www.pdza.org. December Events Find event details MetroParksTacoma.org/Calendar December 1-January 1 Zoolights December 1 Victorian Holiday Celebration December 1 19th Century Christmas December 1 Pier Peer December 9 Holiday Bazaar December 9 Second Sunday Music Series December 12 Conservatory Story Hour December 14 Kids Night Out at STAR Center December 14-15 Winter Arts Showcase December 15 Polar Bears' Birthday December 15 Point Defiance Marina Beach Clean Up December 15 Holiday Boat Parade December 24 Jingle Bell Run December 26 Winter Wildland December 31 Last Mile at First Night December 31 First Night Tacoma January 1 Polar Bear Plunge January 1 New Year's Day Dance Metro Parks Tacoma strives to create an atmosphere of accessibility to our diverse community. If you have comments and suggestions to help us meet your expectations, please call Roxanne Miles, (253) 305-1068 or email inclusion@tacomaparks.com.