A $652,000 trail project on Tacoma's Eastside is finished. Parks Tacoma wants neighbors to come see it.

The agency is hosting a free opening celebration for the First Creek Trailhead on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at 1721 E. 56th St. The site sits on a wedge of land between the Eastside Community Center, First Creek Middle School and Swan Creek Park.

Construction ran from March through July on what Parks Tacoma describes as a one-of-a-kind project that improved trail access, added fitness and play equipment and opened community gathering space, according to a Parks Tacoma news release published Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Pull-up bars, step-up benches, a bamboo jungle climbing structure and mushroom-shaped features for kids to climb on now dot the site. Benches, picnic tables, a kiosk and a bike rack mark the entrances to Swan Creek Park and the Pipeline Trail.

A new trail section connects the climbing boulders outside the Eastside Community Center to the Pipeline Trail, and wooden stairs offer easier access to Swan Creek Park's mountain bike area and walking trails.

What to expect Wednesday

Yard games, helmet fittings and refreshments start at 5 p.m., followed by brief remarks. Community partners Tacoma on the Go and Second Cycle will lead a guided bike ride and walk from 5:45 to 6:20 p.m. It's free to attend.

How it was paid for

The $652,000 project was funded by a voter-approved bond and grants from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and the Trust for Public Land. The news release does not specify which bond funded the work, though construction predates the $155 million Proposition 1 bond voters approved in April.

That newer bond, which passed with 76.1% support, replaces a retiring 2014 bond without raising property taxes and will fund more than 100 capital improvement projects across the park system over six years.

The trailhead is now open to the public. For questions about the celebration, contact Parks Tacoma's Community Outreach and Engagement office at 253-348-3486.