Supporting Parks Tacoma Expansion and Improvements
By Dani Backman
Reconnecting with Nature at Swan Creek Park
How do you transform a small residential property into a foothold for ecological renewal and community access? Herrera is supporting Parks Tacoma on a site within the Swan Creek Park corridor that offers a chance to reconnect neighborhoods with nature while restoring ecological function.
Designing a Site for Restoration and Access
The site was formerly developed with a single-family home and several outbuildings. Parks Tacoma identified this parcel as a key link for improving public access to parks and trails for nearby neighborhoods.
Herrera is preparing designs for removal of all existing structures and associated above-ground and below-ground improvements. The team is also developing a restoration plan that uses native plantings and seeding to return the property to natural conditions that support ecological processes, improve sustainability, and set the stage for an accessible and ecologically beneficial extension of the larger park system.
Pre-demolition conditions at a future park access improvement site; high-visibility fencing marks the approved work area ahead of demolition and restoration.
Connecting Neighborhoods to Swan Creek Park
This property sits along the southwesterly boundary of Swan Creek Park, where neighborhoods have had limited direct access. Restoring and transforming the site will create new opportunities for people to reach trails and natural areas more safely and comfortably. Access improvements like these strengthen the connection between communities and local ecosystems, and they reflect Parks Tacoma’s long-term commitment to creating inclusive, welcoming parks. Read more about the Swan Creek Park project here.
Looking Ahead to Norpoint Park
As construction continues at Swan Creek, Herrera is preparing to support Parks Tacoma’s design and planning for an expansion at Norpoint Park. The project will build on the existing park by removing an old house and adding a dog park, day-use areas, trails, parking, and a connection to the Center at Norpoint. This phase will introduce community-requested amenities while balancing impacts to habitat, wetlands, and tree canopy to enhance both ecological function and the park’s role as a community space.
Norpoint Park concept diagram
Continuing the Work of Community-Centered Restoration
Projects like Swan Creek and Norpoint Park show how restoration design can expand access, deepen community connection, and return ecological function to urban landscapes. This work supports a broader shift toward nature-based planning and design that honors local ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
Herrera looks forward to continuing our partnership with Parks Tacoma and advancing projects that strengthen resilience across the region.
Current Norpoint Park site, showing the house that will be removed
Posted In:
Environmental, Habitat, Landscape Architecture, Natural Areas, Projects, Restoration, Site Design, Sustainability, Washington