The Swan Creek Park entrance near Pioneer Way and Waller Road on the southeast side of Swan Creek will be closed weekdays July 11-16 while crews remove gravel from a sediment pond.
The Pioneer Way entrance and all park property on the southeast side of Swan Creek will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The rest of the park will remain open. Park users can enter the park off of East Roosevelt Avenue.
The sediment pond, which is located near the parking lot off of Pioneer Way, was designed to protect Pioneer Way from flooding and reduce impacts to salmon when sediment removal takes place. Pierce County removes gravel from the pond every one to three years to ensure accumulated sediment does not cause problems downstream during high water flows.
“This maintenance work is needed to protect Pioneer Way and surrounding residences and businesses during the flood season,” said Harold Smelt, Pierce County Public Works surface water manager. “We recognize these closures are inconvenient, so we appreciate the community’s patience.”
Before the pond was built, Swan Creek would occasionally flood and close Pioneer Way. The sediment pond provides additional water storage during storms and collects sediment to protect Pioneer Way where it crosses over Swan Creek.
Pierce County will post signs at trailheads and on either side of the worksite warning park users of the maintenance work and closures. People in the park should use caution around the worksite and follow instructions from the crew.
Park users can visit www.piercecountywa.org/SwanCrParkClosure to learn more about the project and get regular updates about the closure.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tiffany O’Dell, Public Works outreach coordinator
(253) 798-2468
[email protected]