I love this park. It truly is a hidden gem. I used to come here to eat my lunch alone when I was working. It was a quiet place I could breath away from the chaos. And I still come here. So if you need a quiet place to breath, let me tell you about this Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Narrows Park Gig Harbor.
History
For years I referred to this park as Doc Weathers Park, although that was never the official name. But for some reason that was how I was introduced to it. The history of this park is really fascinating. Here is how it is described from the PenMet Parks website;
Narrows Park’s 36 acres include mature forest, and 1,315 feet of saltwater beach, and is the result of the combination of several parcels owned by several different families over the years.
In 1889, Section 33, including Narrows Park, was owned by W.S. Ladd. In 1915, the north portion of Narrows Park was owned by J.A. Hosher. In 1924, N.M. Lawson owned the southern portion after it served as part of a U.S. Military Reservation. In 1951, Doc Weathers owned a 36-acre parcel in the south portion, and built the main residence in 1961. He also owned several hundred surrounding acres including the site of the Tacoma Narrows Airport.
Doc Weathers’ wife, Lucille, inherited the 36-acre parcel in 1985 from his estate. Fred and Grace Gemmel inherited the property in 1992 from Lucille’s estate. In 1994, the Gemmels gifted the property to the Lutheran Church Foundation in St Louis, Missouri. The Trust for Public Land acquired the property from the Lutheran Church Foundation in 1996 in anticipation of selling it to Pierce County.
Pierce County acquired the property in 1996 for $2.5 million through the use of Pierce County Conservation Futures funds and a Washington State IAC (later RCO) federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. The road, parking, and viewing areas were developed in 2005 as a component of the third Tacoma Narrows Bridge construction.
In 2011, Pierce County transferred the property to the Peninsula Metropolitan Park District which now owns, operates, and maintains the park. Eagle Scout projects have added picnic tables and other amenities.
Still a Hidden Gem
Although each time I visit there are more people, it really is still a hidden gem. The park is a great place to have a picnic. I used to bring my Dad here for lunch when he was suffering from Alzheimer disease. It is easy access and he liked to look at the beautiful view of the Narrows Bridge.
It’s a great place to walk and beach comb at low tide. Photographers love it for the spectacular full view of the bridges as well as lots of bird life and marine traffic.
Tacoma Narrows Bridges
When the third Tacoma Narrows Bridge was under construction I enjoyed my quiet getaways to this park to watch the bridge literally rise out of the water. This week marks 19 years since the opening of bridge number three. Although often referred to as the “new” bridge or the second bridge, the bridge is the third to span the narrows. Learn more Tacoma Narrows Bridge history here.
Galloping Gertie” was the nickname given to the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Opening on July 1, 1940, it was the third-longest suspension bridge in the world at the time. Famous for swaying and twisting violently in the wind, the bridge collapsed on November 7, 1940.
The second Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which replaced the collapsed “Galloping Gertie”, officially opened to traffic on October 14, 1950
Following increased traffic congestion, a third, parallel suspension bridge was later built alongside it and opened on July 16, 2007. And Narrows Park is the best place to view it.
July 16, 2007
Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Narrows Park Gig Harbor
So I’ve let you in on my little secret. A small, quiet park with big beautiful views – Narrows Park in Gig Harbor. Another true Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Narrows Park Gig Harbor. Find the park here.
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