Key Pen Parks

June News

The key to your next adventure!

Happy Great Outdoors Month! Check out all the ways you can get out and about in our parks to enjoy the outdoor beauty of the Key Peninsula!

What's Going On In Our Parks?

June 3rd is National Trails Day! What's your favorite Key Pen Parks trail?

Get ready for our Summer Solstice Gnome Hunt! When spring turns into summer at the end of June, you might start to notice little ceramic gnomes all around our parks, coming out of their gnome homes for the sunny summer weather. Come on out to our parks over the summer for our first community-wide scavenger hunt! Visit www.keypenparks.com/gnomes for more information. Use #kppgnomehunt to post to Facebook or Instagram when you find a gnome!

The Scott Gallacher Memorial Spray and Play Park is now open for summer! Our awesome maintenance team was able to open up the Spray Park during the heat wave at the middle of May, and it is now open all summer long! This fun feature is open from now through Labor Day weekend with hours from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, 7 days a week. The Scott Gallacher Memorial Spray and Play Park is weather dependent and may be closed during heavy wind or rain and will always be closed in the event of thunder and/or lightening. www.keypenparks.com/splash-pad

Summer Family Fun Fest is July 8th! Come on down to Gateway Park to kick-off your summer with loads of fun! There will be bounce houses for all ages, carnival games and prizes, music, and lots of tasty snacks! www.keypenparks.com/family-fun-fest
We need volunteers for this event! If you are interested in volunteering, reach out trielle@keypenparks.com for more information!

Cinema Under the Stars! Save your Friday nights in August to watch fan-favorite movies with us at Gateway Park or Volunteer Park (alternates each week)! www.keypenparks.com/movienights

The Maker's Market is cancelled. Thank you to all of the vendors who had signed up and for those who were interested in this end-of-June event. Due to scheduling conflicts, we made the decision to cancel the Maker's Market on June 24th.

These are real examples of the ceramic gnomes that you can find in Gateway Park, 360 Trails, Volunteer Park, and Home Park as part of our community-wide scavenger hunt, starting 6/22! They were created by local artist, Megan Schowalter (@meganschowalterstudios).

Reserve a picnic shelter!

Our picnic shelters at Gateway Park, Volunteer Park, and Home Park can be reserved for your event or activity. Fill out a rental request form today!

www.keypenparks.com/picnic-shelter-rentals

Fun Activities!

Get out and about in your local parks! Download this Key Pen Parks bingo and spend your summer out and about in our parks. If you would like to be entered into our raffle (details below), make sure you take a picture of your completed bingo board next to the gnome you found!

Printable Version

Think you have a Bingo Blackout? Email our Outreach and Community Events Coordinator at trielle@keypenparks.com with photo proof! The first 30 people to submit their completed board will receive a prize and will be entered in a raffle to win a free 2-hour half rental of the Gateway Pavilion! All submissions must be turned in by Tuesday, September 5th.

Community Engagement

Thank you to everyone who came to Mom & Me Tea!

We had a wonderful time, and we hope you did too!

Key Pen Parks at the Livable Community Fair

On May 13th, we went all the way from our office down to the Key Peninsula Civic Center (a whole 8 minutes!) and met many local organizations and the wonderful community here in the greater Key Peninsula area. Thanks to everyone who came over and said hi!

Key Pen Parks at the Pierce County Council meeting

We had the fantastic opportunity to present at the Pierce County Council meeting on May 18th at the Longbranch Improvement Club! Thank you to all the Key Peninsula residents who attended; to those unable to make it, check out meeting recording to hear all about the goings-on in Key Pen Parks and other local groups. Council Meeting (pierce.wa.us)

Key Pen Parks at the Aisle of Honor

We had the privilege of donating the use of our sound system for the Aisle of Honor over Memorial Day weekend, a ceremony that recognizes and honors local citizens who have served and dedicated their lives to our country.

Summer Reading List - Provided by Pierce County Library

Hello summer! Hello adventure! Check out these books at the Key Center Pierce County Library to kick off a summer of reading and exploration!

Books for Older Adventurers

52 Ways to Nature. Washington: Your Seasonal Guide to a Wilder Year by Lauren Braden
The Disabled Hiker's Guide to Western Washington and Oregon: Outdoor Adventures Accessible by Car, Wheelchair, and on Foot by Syren Nagakyrie
Washington Hiking by Craig Hill

Books for Young Adventurers and the Young and Heart

25 Fun Things to Do Outside by Paul Mason
Go Hiking! by Heather L. Bode
Let's Go for a Walk by Ranger Hamza
The Night Walk by Marie Dorleans and translated by Polly Lawson

Everyone welcome (including kids)! Bring clothes for the weather and binoculars if you have them (extras available). Join Chris Rurik, the KP Nature Guide, each month for a bird walk around Gateway Park’s hidden beaver pond and back woods. Learn about incredible birds and hope for the thrill of finding a rarity. All skill levels welcome. Expect to walk 1-2 miles on uneven terrain.

Reminder Of Our Park Rules

Please do not park in the trailer parking unless you have a trailer!

The trailer parking at Gateway Park is the only spot designated for trailers, so when that space is full of normal size vehicles, that means that folks with oversized vehicles such as RVs/camping trailers, horse trailers, and bike trailers no longer have access to 360 Trails.

We will be placing delineators with chains and signs around the trailer parking to limit access. If you have a trailer, all you need to do is remove the chain from the delineator during your visit to 360 Trails and replace the chain when you leave.

If you have any questions about this, please email answers@keypenparks.com or call our office at (253) 884-9240.

Job Openings

Key Pen Parks works to creates spaces where the Key Peninsula can meet and have fun, discover community, engage with nature and get some fresh air, and participate in special events. Come join our team and help us provide beautiful parks that everyone can enjoy! We have career opportunities on both the office and the maintenance side, so check out what jobs we have open.

Office and Events Assistant

Visit www.keypenparks.com/jobs to apply!

Photo Features

We want to see the fun photos you've taken in our parks! Submit your photo to trielle@keypenparks.com for a chance to be featured on our website and/or newsletter! All photos will be screened to ensure appropriate content.

What Content Are You Interested In?

Think we're missing something in our newsletter? Let us know! Whether you want different types of information or other fun activities and highlights, reach out to our Outreach and Community Events Coordinator at trielle@keypenparks.com to let us know your suggestions!

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