Rainier Vista Park design improvements approved by parks board

More pickleball courts, outfield safety netting and outdoor pingpong tables could be added to Rainier Vista Park after the Lacey Parks, Culture & Recreation Board approved a design concept for the improvements. 

The board voted unanimously at its meeting on Wednesday, April 1, to recommend the concept to City Manager Rick Walk and direct consultant RWD Landscape Architects to proceed into 60 percent design of the project.

Construction is targeted for spring and summer 2027, pending final approval. 

The $919,618 project was approved in the city's 2024 budget, with more than $530,000 secured through grants and donations. 

Funding sources include up to $500,000 from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, $25,000 from the Thurston County Pickleball Club and $5,000 from the PARC Foundation of Thurston County. 

The improvements aim to respond to demand that has been building for years. A 2018 community survey found 78 percent of respondents supported adding outdoor pingpong tables to a city park. 

The 2023 Lacey Parks, Culture & Recreation Comprehensive Plan later added to that call, identifying the need for additional pickleball courts and naming Rainier Vista Park as the preferred location due to its established tournament history and active player base. 

Safety upgrades 

The project also addresses safety concerns that have affected operations at the park. 

Errant softballs from Field 1 have repeatedly forced staff to close adjacent pickleball courts during games, requiring alternating use between the two facilities. The planned 40-foot outfield safety netting is designed to allow both activities to run at the same time. 

City Project Manager Bogdan Tirtu presented a 30 percent design concept to the board alongside Senior Parks Planner Jenny Wilson, walking commissioners through a layout that includes three standard pickleball courts measuring 34 feet by 64 feet and one larger court at 44 by 74 feet. 

The oversized court is designed to meet wheelchair accessibility standards and can also serve as a championship court during tournaments. Tirtu noted it may be among the first of its kind in the region. 

Two precast concrete, outdoor pingpong tables, anchored permanently into the ground, round out the new amenities. The tables are designed to withstand outdoor conditions and include stainless steel netting. 

Project costs 

The preliminary base construction estimate stands at $731,263.77. Design work is contracted at approximately $129,875, with roughly $60,000 from the total budget reserved for administration, bid preparation and construction management. 

An alternate bid item covering the remainder of Field 1 with additional outfield netting is estimated at $153,031.50. Staff said that money will only be awarded if combined bids come in under the construction budget. 

RWD Landscape Architects was selected from a pool of seven qualified consultants reviewed in December 2025. The Lacey-based firm has designed more than 36 pickleball courts over the past five years. 

The 60 percent design threshold is expected to be completed in June 2026, with construction documents due in January 2027 and bidding scheduled for February 2027.