Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Tumwater Parks & Recreation Department is moving to a new location.
The Tumwater City Council authorized the purchase of a property on Tumwater Valley Drive for $1.56 million to house the department, which has been leasing a building near Olympia Regional Airport since last year.
Staffers attributed the need for the purchase to growth in the city. Much like the currently leased space, the new location has enough space to host community meetings, classes and other events by the department.
The purchase is going to be paid for through a mix of different revenue sources, according to Finance Director Troy Niemeyer.
Funding sources include park impact fees, Metropolitan Park District funds and the city’s general fund. The city is leasing the department’s current office for $99,664 annually.
The new location spans 1.8 acres and includes a 6,000-square-foot building called the Tumwater Valley Lodge.
Parks & Recreation Director Chuck Denney said the building was used as a child care facility but has been vacant for a year.
The building was built in 1988 by the Pabst Brewing Company as a corporate retreat and was later sold to Miller Brewing Company, which continued to use it for special events.
Denney assured the building was inspected last year, and no major issues were identified.
Recent upgrades include a new roof, a new heating and air conditioning system, and new flooring. The exterior is currently overgrown, but Denney said the department plans to restore the property with low-maintenance landscaping.
Denney said the site is centrally located to many of the city’s recreational sites. The property is adjacent to the Tumwater Valley Golf Course and driving range, where the city hosts its Fourth of July event and the annual Tumwater Artesian Brewfest. It also lies along the future path of the Deschutes Trail project.
Council member Angela Jefferson asked whether the building would be available for public events or reserved solely for city use.
Niemeyer said staff would evaluate the option, but cautioned the city does not want to compete with a new event center in town. Any decision to open the space for public events would also require a cost-effectiveness analysis.
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OlyBlues
It is rather astonishing that at the same time the county, city of Olympia, and city of Lacey are tightening their budgets and demonstrating spending restraint, Tumwater city officials are spending like drunk sailors. A new fluff "Arts Coordinator" position posted on the city's website topping out at over $7K/month and $1.56 million for the extravagant Parks Lodge palace. Chuck Denney is building quite the empire after just last year recommending transients be allowed to camp overnight in the city's parks. And let's not forget Denney's collusion with the former Mayor and city administrator to hush city employees and not speak of their plans to destroy the Garry Oak tree. This is totally irresponsible, wasteful spending by the city.
Wednesday, February 18 Report this
Tumwater_Granny
It would take over 130 years of rent at the current rate to equal the purchase price of this building. Why on earth does this council think that kind of expenditure is warranted for a city of Tumwater parks department?? We don't have a zoo to upkeep. The parks that we have are in dire need of upgrades and safety expenditures. This building purchase seems like a completely asinine waste of taxpayer money. If the parks department wants to host community events, then why don't they host them in a park seeing that they are the parks department, that makes much more sense. If the council wants to go out and buy buildings for the city, why don't they buy a building where all of city services can be housed under the same roof? I'm tired of driving all over the damn place to get my city business done. Why don't you make it easier for the taxpayer instead of spending our money Frivolously!
Friday, February 20 Report this
Mullumnia
Tum granny, your math is off. It is 130 MONTHS, not years, of rent. A much better payback period with any upgrade $ going towards city owned property not thrown away on a landlord's buliding.
Sunday, February 22 Report this