Crews fenced off North Slope Historic Park on Tuesday, Aug. 11, and started tearing out 24-year-old play equipment, kicking off a $160,000 rebuild that more than 325 neighbors helped design.

The pocket park at the corner of N. 8th and N. K streets will get round, covered swings children can crawl inside, a small climbing structure with two slides and fresh ADA-compliant engineered wood fiber surfacing, Parks Tacoma announced.

The project is funded by a voter-approved bond. Parks Tacoma's $155 million bond package, approved by Tacoma voters in April, covers improvements at more than 40 parks and community centers across the district, including 10 playground replacements.

What neighbors asked for

During the design phase, more than 325 community members told Parks Tacoma they wanted the 0.23-acre site maximized for play and oriented toward nature-based elements. The park originally opened in 2002.

Justin Kocher, Parks Tacoma's marketing and digital media coordinator, wrote in the district's announcement that this is one of four playgrounds being replaced this year. The others are at Alderwood Park, Cloverdale Park and Lincoln Heights Park. A fifth replacement, at Oakland Madrona Park, opened in January.

What's next

Construction is expected to wrap up by fall, followed by an opening celebration. Parks Tacoma has not announced a specific date for either milestone.

The North Slope project sits just blocks from another North End construction zone, where Rústico Coffee & Bakery is building out its new space in the former Dave's Meat location on North I Street.