Oak Tree Park Design Study Report

Oak Tree Park

Address: S. 74th at Pine Street

Location: South Tacoma Neighborhood

Park Designation: Natural Area/ Neighborhood Park

Size: 24.9 acres

Background Information: Oak Tree Park is a 25 acre parcel that comprises one

of the last remnants of the Gary Oak habitat that used to dominate this part of the

city. Oak woodlands are also home to many disappearing species of animals

including the western bluebird, white-breasted nuthatch, western gray squirrel,

and the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly. Oak Tree Park preserves an intact stand

of large oaks with its related understory of snowberry and tall Oregon grape.

While the majority of Oak Tree Park is designated as a Greenspace or natural

area, four acres also serve as a designated local park for the community. This

area includes play equipment and is located along South 74th street. The local

park site is owned and managed by Tacoma Water. Because of the glacial gravel

deposits there are also remnants of excavation pits adjacent to the flume line.

These scraped over areas have overgrown with invasive blackberry and scotch

broom that threaten the native oak and companion understory vegetation.

Problems with homeless encampments, dumping, and other negative uses have

been a regular occurrence over the years.

The recently adopted Parks & Recreation Services Strategic Plan identified Oak

Tree Park as a natural area but also recognizes its importance in providing

neighborhood park services to surrounding residents. The park currently consists

of a playground area and non-fluoridated water-station operated by Tacoma

Water, and a number of informal trails through the Metro Park’s owned parcels.

The City of Tacoma has also developed a plan to establish the old flume line as a

greenbelt connector trail through the city that would run from South Tacoma Way

to Downtown, (see attached site plan). Oak Tree Park is located at the south

terminus of the proposed Historic Water Ditch Trail that would rebuild a segment

of a 110 year old trail system that traversed Tacoma and extended to Mt. Rainer.

Most of the trail outside the Tacoma city limits no longer exists but remnants of

the 1896 "Water Ditch" trail in Tacoma are still used today. The restored trail is

greatly desired by the community and will provide the only trail linking Tacoma's

South Tacoma Center with the downtown Tacoma Dome Station District a

distance of 6.5 miles. The Historic Water Ditch Trail will create a unique

opportunity to rebuild and realize an urban commuter trail that traverses or

connects two(2) regional centers, two(2) regional transportation stations, two(2)

mixed-use centers, three(3) parks, three(3) schools, a community center, a

recreation center, and a manufacturing/industrial district. The Historic Water

Ditch Trail project will provide the "spine" of a non-motorized system that will

connect the South Tacoma neighborhood district to downtown Tacoma Regional

Center and the only major South Sound transportation hub at the Tacoma Dome

Station (see project map).