Metro Parks Tacoma crews will begin a substantial upgrade to the irrigation main at Point Defiance Park on Tues., Sept. 4. Construction to replace nearly 7,000 lineal feet of main line, roughly the length of 20 football fields, is expected to take approximately eight weeks.

The work will affect pathways and turf from the Pearl Street entrance through the grassy bowl, pond and garden areas, as well as around the Visitors Center, Pagoda and tennis courts. Parking and the exit road on the backside of the gardens will be closed. It may be necessary to temporarily reroute traffic for a day or two at a time as connecting lines that run under roadways are replaced.

“Our contractors will do everything possible to minimize the impact on visitors, but we want to prepare folks that this will be a major undertaking and will create some temporary inconveniences,” said Vito Iacobazzi, Park Superintendent.

The replacement is an important long-term solution to address leakage issues that have persisted, despite repairs over the past decade, according to Metro Parks Tacoma officials. Millions of gallons flow through the leaking main to irrigate this portion of the park. The upgrade is expected to reduce water usage by roughly 20 percent in this area. Replacing the main will reduce leaks, helping conserve water and eliminating ongoing repairs. The project is part of a comprehensive energy service contract that Metro Parks has entered into with the State of Washington, which is designed to provide conservation and operating efficiency benefits.