Tacoma residents could soon notice upgrades and improvements to the Chinese Reconciliation Park (pictured), which overlooks Commencement Bay and commemorates the expulsion of more than 200 Chinese people from their Tacoma homes and businesses on Nov. 3, 1885.
Tacoma City Council awarded a $404,242.51 contract to T. Miller Construction to complete the improvements during a public meeting Tuesday at Tacoma City Hall.
The park, which opened in 2011, currently includes a garden, winding foot paths, bridge, Ting pavilion gifted by the City of Fuzhou, sea wall, public art, interpretive displays, and recreation areas.
The park’s third phase will add approximately 30 parking spaces to the existing parking lot, remove approximately 1,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil currently stockpiled on site under the Schuster Parkway Bridge, and add amenities such as signage, a bamboo wall with a Chinese motif, plants, and lighting, according to City staff. The City put the project out for bid in December (see “Tacoma Bid Watch: Chinese Reconciliation Park, Sheridan Elementary Safe Route, and sidewalk improvements,” Tacoma Daily Index, Dec. 16, 2014). The bid deadline expired in January, and six contractors submitted bids (see “Tacoma Bid Watch: Chinese Reconciliation Park update, transient camp cleanups, and ADA improvements,” Tacoma Daily Index, Jan. 29, 2015). T. Miller Construction of Auburn, Wash., submitted the lowest bid, according to City staff. The project is largely being paid for thanks to a major grant from the Washington State Historical Society (see “Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park awarded $388K heritage grant,” Tacoma Daily Index, Aug. 6, 2013).
To read the Tacoma Daily Index’s complete and comprehensive coverage of Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park, click on the following links:
- More lighting, parking planned for Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, Posted on March 20, 2015)
- Chinese Reconciliation Park fundraiser March 6 in Tacoma (Tacoma Daily Index, March 2, 2015)
- Tacoma Bid Watch: Chinese Reconciliation Park update, transient camp cleanups, and ADA improvements (Tacoma Daily Index, January 29, 2015)
- Tacoma Bid Watch: Chinese Reconciliation Park, Sheridan Elementary Safe Route, and sidewalk improvements (Tacoma Daily Index, December 16, 2014)
- 5 Pierce County heritage projects could receive $2.8M in Wash. capital improvement grants (Tacoma Daily Index, September 19, 2014)
- Tacoma Moon Festival returns Sept. 21 (Tacoma Daily Index, August 26, 2013)
- Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park awarded $388K heritage grant (Tacoma Daily Index, August 6, 2013)
- Tacoma City Council to discuss proposed changes to open space program (Tacoma Daily Index, February 1, 2013)
- Volunteers, sponsors needed for Tacoma Moon Festival (Tacoma Daily Index, August 16, 2012)
- Tacoma Daily Index Top Stories — May 21 – May 27 (Tacoma Daily Index, May 29, 2012)
- Heritage grant could pay for Chinese Reconciliation Park improvements (Tacoma Daily Index, May 18, 2012)
- Fuzhou Ting earns Tacoma Sister Cities Council arts and culture award (Tacoma Daily Index, May 7, 2012)
- Community planting event at Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, March 23, 2012)
- Dedication ceremony soon for Fuzhou Ting at Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, September 16, 2011)
- Tacoma Daily Index Top Stories — June 2011 (Tacoma Daily Index, July 5, 2011)
- Vandals hit Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, June 17, 2011)
- Tension, tears preceded Chinese Reconciliation Park funding vote (Tacoma Daily Index, February 17, 2011)
- Tacoma City Council: More money OK for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, February 16, 2011)
- Memo outlines $250K need for Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, February 14, 2011)
- Decision delayed on additional funds for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, February 11, 2011)
- City could spend additional $250K for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, February 7, 2011)
- Tacoma City Council approves additional funding for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, November 3, 2010)
- City Council to vote on additional $350K for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, October 29, 2010)
- Walk for Reconciliation Saturday (Tacoma Daily Index, October 29, 2010)
- Pavilion arrives in Tacoma for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, September 27, 2010)
- City Council to discuss $7M shortfall for Chinese Reconciliation Project (Tacoma Daily Index, June 21, 2010)
- Landmarks Preservation Commission announces 2008 Preservation Award winners (Tacoma Daily Index, October 22, 2008)
- Resolution would make Chinese Reconciliation Park name official (Tacoma Daily Index, September 24, 2007)
- City Manager Anderson implements operating hours for 10 urban parks (Tacoma Daily Index, September 18, 2007)
- A new chapter in Tacoma history (Tacoma Daily Index, August 22, 2005)
- City allocates funds for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, August 17, 2005)
- City welcomes Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, August 16, 2005)
- Groundbreaking scheduled Aug. 19 for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, August 15, 2005)
- City may allocate $1 million for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, August 15, 2005)
- City may allocate $1 million for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, August 11, 2005)
- Ordinance would allow $2 million for Chinese Reconciliation Park (Tacoma Daily Index, August 8, 2005)
- City of Tacoma News: Tacoma City Council (Tacoma Daily Index, March 22, 2004)
Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park. (FILE PHOTOS BY TODD MATTHEWS)
Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park. (FILE PHOTOS BY TODD MATTHEWS)
