Friends of Pugnetti Park

04/25/2026

A park visitor sent us this photo today ... so time for a "good news" update. So on good authority (i.e. the Washington State History Museum director), we've recently learned the following: "As many have noticed, WSDOT crews and their contractors have been actively removing dead trees and clearing overgrown vegetation from Pugnetti Park to begin restoration efforts. We have also been working through numerous issues on the long-term lease agreement, but unfortunately have no notable updates to share on that front." Progress!! 👏👏👏

04/13/2026

Today marks the 14th Anniversary of the fences coming down around Pugnetti Park and its reopening. In many ways, it also sadly marks the beginning of its tragic decline due to the ongoing neglect and bureaucratic indifference of its stewards - the City of Tacoma Government and WSDOT.

Pugnetti Park was reopened to the public by WSDOT on April 13, 2012.

05/26/2025

"Tacoma's Pugnetti Park, under WSDOT's care, has languished for years but is now poised to potentially see a revival thanks to the newly signed law." https://hoodline.com/2025/05/washington-governor-signs-bill-authorizing-lease-of-idle-highway-lands-for-community-development/

05/26/2025

The Governor signed House Bill 1774 on May 17th; it will become effective on July 27th.
For more,👇

04/24/2025

We are THRILLED to report that Substitute House Bill 1774 has been approved by the WA State Legislature and is awaiting the Governor's signature. The legislation grants the Washington State History Museum the authority to assume responsibility for the stewardship, restoration and ongoing maintenance of Pugnetti Park. Though WSDOT remains the property owner, we can finally look forward to a better future for this downtown park after many years of neglect. Our thanks go out to the leadership at Washington State Historical Society, State Representative Jake Fey and others for their efforts to make this happen. As restoration plans unfold, we'll be sharing the news here. In the meantime, enjoy this photo taken back in the park's better days. Stay tuned!

04/01/2025

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1774&Year=2025&Initiative=false Sharing some good news from our friend, Jerry Pugnetti: "I’m happy to report that there have been positive developments related to the restoration of long-neglected Pugnetti Park. Pending legislation in Olympia would permit the Washington State Historical Museum to lease Pugnetti Park from the Department of Transportation and to restore and maintain the park. House Bill 1774 has already passed the House of Representative and is now pending in the Senate. The Senate Transportation Committee will hear the bill Tuesday, April 1 at 4pm. While nothing is guaranteed, we are optimistic about the bill’s chances and encouraged by the Museum’s desire and commitment to bring back a once-beautiful park and provide continued stewardship and security in the future. We all should be grateful to State Rep. Jake Fey of the 27th District for introducing this bill as its prime sponsor. There is an opportunity for anyone to sign in online and indicate their support for the legislation in advance of the hearing. See the above link. These are the instructions for navigating the process: Click on Committee Sign In Home, and it will take you to the page where you select “Senate.” Then scroll down to Transportation Committee, and it will ask you which meeting. Select 4/1/2025 4 pm. Under agenda items, select SHB1774. Under type of testimony, be sure and select “I would like my position noted for the legislative record.” Then Select “pro” and fill in the info requested. Thank you for your support."

07/18/2024

What the park looks like now ...

06/16/2024

https://www.historylink.org/File/22978 Don't miss the history of this historical marker, from our good friends at HistoryLink.org. You can read it, then go have a look at Pugnetti Park's connection to early Tacoma history.

On June 10, 1926, Tacomans formally dedicate a stone tablet commemorating the arrival of the first passenger train on December 16, 1873. The historical marker, donated by the Tacoma Woman's Club, is

02/27/2024

“The fault lies not in the stars but in ourselves.” - William Shakespeare

When it comes to conditions at Pugnetti Park, in a classic case of victim-blaming, it is not the stars but the park itself that's being blamed. Rather than holding accountable those responsible for its stewardship, the TNT's current editor and a handful of others instead blame the park for its current conditions. Without any regard for the history of this park and the many years of beauty and charm it once provided visitors and nearby residents when it was maintained properly, they instead look for reasons to get rid of it. One of their examples, perhaps a building (condos? parking garage?) with maybe a park on top? Of course suggestions like that ignore the fact that the site was determined years ago to be in need of costly remediation of contaminants and hazardous soil conditions below the surface. The TNT's former editor and park namesake would be surprised to see the TNT's current editor preferring to give these responsible stewards an easy pass; but given the current state of the TNT, perhaps not too surprised. In some ways, the park's steadily deteriorating conditions are analogous to the newspaper's. Its framing of the problem suggests that the rumored efforts several years ago to sell off and develop the park are now amping up again.

The park's design is not the problem. Those who've been around long enough to remember know that -- when properly maintained -- this park was visited and used by many people for many, many years. Just take a look back at its condition in older Street Views (https://maps.app.goo.gl/ghWyXiX8PBEnhQQw5 ) to see how differently it was once maintained and managed; things started to change in 2012. The neglect and indifference since then by government officials (both non-elected and electeds, along with the TNT) has been consistent.

02/21/2024

Since 2012 the Friends of Pugnetti Park and other community members have repeatedly voiced concerns about the neglect of the park to WSDOT, the City of Tacoma Government and others, including elected officials like Speaker Laurie Jinkins, the Mayor and City Councilmembers Sarah Rumbaugh and John Hines. Nothing changed; only further degradation. Even the recent 150th Anniversary of Northern Pacific Railroad's arrival in Tacoma, marked by the large historic marker unveiled in June 1926 behind the Pugnetti's in the photo below, brought no relief from the neglect and only further indifference. Now family members of the park's namesake are speaking up. Yes, Representative Jake Fey, we would agree that it is an "embarrassment" and more. One only has to look at the state of WSDOT-owned and -managed right-of-way around Tacoma to see what the problem is.

WSDOT said it has higher priorities.