Kids dig new playground as city opens Doris Heritage Park

Community Government

Kids couldn’t wait for the ribbon cutting Monday at Gig Harbor’s Doris Heritage Park. Not that they were captivated by a ceremony crowning the decade of work that brought the first jewel of the city’s sports complex to fruition. They just wanted to hit the new playground.

“3-2-1,” the crowd of hundreds counted down. Mayor Mary Barber and Heritage, the local native who became one of the world’s greatest female long-distance runners, snipped the red ribbon with their outsized scissors. The ends had barely hit the ground before youngsters stormed through the opening to initiate the maritime-themed equipment.

“That was amazing, seeing all the kids running onto the playground,” said City Engineer Aaron Hulst, who oversaw the $6.6 million project. “Priceless. A mad rush. It was so cool to see.”

Adults were soon to follow, enlivening the six pickleball and three bocce ball courts. The park beside the Tom Taylor Family YMCA also includes picnic areas, a performance stage, event lawn and a restroom/concession building.

Heritage chosen from suggested names

The city received 24 suggestions about naming the park. Two recommended Heritage.

“There are so many people who worked hard to make this park a reality,” said Mayor Barber. “After learning about Doris, it became clear she was the perfect person to be so honored.”

Born Doris Severtson in 1942, Heritage grew up across from Fox Island. She graduated in 1960 from Peninsula High School, where girls couldn’t compete in track and field or even run on the oval, so she joined a local running club and set a national record in the 440-yard dash. She attended Seattle Pacific University, which also didn’t have a women’s team, so she trained with the men.

Running records piled up

During her prime, the diminutive Heritage held the world record in the 3,000 meters and owned every national mark from the 440-yard dash to the mile. She won the first five women’s world cross country championships, captured 14 national titles and was the first woman to run a sub-5-minute mile indoors. She qualified for the 1968 and 1972 Olympics in the 800- and 1,500-meter races, respectively. She has been recognized in five national halls of fame.

Heritage received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from SPU, where she coached track and cross-country for 39 years while spending 37 years as a junior high teacher in the Shoreline School District.

Heritage was featured in a Dec. 14, 2023, Gig Harbor Now story by Dennis Browne that returned her to the local radar.

Asked if training, genetics, running style or a combination were responsible for her groundbreaking success, Heritage responded, “I loved to run. It was the best way to get around.”

Heritage, now 82 and living in Stanwood, remembered the Gig Harbor area as “a good place to live with good friends. We enjoyed hanging out together being active when a lot of people were very active.”

Humbled by the honor

She was humbled at having a hometown park named after her.

“I don’t know why they’d want to name one after me, but I’m honored,” she said. “I try to be a good example so other girls can have the same experience and opportunities that I had.”

Heritage was accompanied by family members from as far away as California. Several former Seattle Pacific runners attended, said Mayor Barber.

Phil Bailey became acquainted with Heritage while running track for the Falcons in the early 2000s when she was coaching the women’s cross-country team. She never mentioned her feats.

Her athletes loved her

“Her athletes absolutely adored her,” said the Gig Harbor man. “She was a great influence on their lives. She was an inspiration to all of us. She never coached on her own accolades. She never talked about it. It was always about the athlete, coaching the athlete to do their best. She got everything out of them, too, motivating them to be the best they could be.”

Barber concluded by thanking Heritage for representing Gig Harbor so well on the international stage and inspiring so many women.

The park sits on acreage that was developed for a business park.

“I think all of us can agree that a sports complex is a better use for it,” she said to exuberant applause.

Barber thanked the many folks who helped make the park a reality, including Pease Construction and its subcontractors, the Kiwanis club that donated eight benches worth $30,000, past and current mayors and city council members, city staff and state legislators, who helped secure a $500,000 grant.

Many contributors thanked

“So many people have been living and breathing this project for years,” she said.

The park was built within budget with money to spare in the change order pool, said Parks Manager Jennifer Haro. A projected February opening was delayed by weather and “other” issues, she said.

“We’re excited to have it open. It turned out great,” said Haro, extolling the work of Construction Supervisor Dan Munn and Program Manager Chloe Wiser.

On the playground after the ceremony, kids swarmed over the new equipment resting on cushiony two-tone blue (water) and green (grass) synthetic turf.

“We’ve been very excited about this,” said Katie Thompson of the nearby Harbor Hill development who attended with husband Andy and their three young boys. “I feel like it’s the perfect place for an after-school hangout. I see so many people I know here.”

“It’s a fun place for kids to get their energy out after school and hopefully make them tired for all of us parents,” added Andy.

The park sits across Harbor Hill Drive from Swift Water Elementary School.

Family reactions

The Thompsons were joined by neighbor Tiffany Boyer and son Milo.

“I like that I can bike to it and my school is very close to it,” said Milo, 6.

The city has envisioned building a sports complex for more than a decade. In 2014-15, the council adopted a Vision and Master Plan for the original 7.1 acres encompassing the southern portion of the complex (Phase 3). In 2016-17 the city acquired an additional 21 acres, including the Peninsula Light Little League fields (Phase 2).

In 2018, the city contracted with Bruce Dees & Associates to develop a master plan for developing the entire sports complex. The council approved the master plan on July 23, 2018.

Phase 1A set to open in February

Serving as a backdrop Monday was property being cleared for Phase 1A, where the YMCA is partnering with the city to build two lighted, synthetic-turf fields. It broke ground on May 3. Barber said it will tentatively open in February 2026.

“Not tentatively,” boomed YMCA President and CEO Charlie Davis. “It will open in February 2026.”

Phases 2 and 3 are not funded. Phase 2 includes improving 9.1 acres the city purchased in 2017 and leases to Gig Harbor Little League by adding synthetic turf and to re-lining fields for multiple sports. Phase 3 includes developing 7.1 acres of forested land the city bought in 2011 just to the south of the YMCA into two more lighted, turfed fields for multiple sports.