Tumwater’s parks and recreation department to relocate 

Tumwater’s parks and recreation department is moving away from city hall. 

Chuck Denney, the department director, told the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, March 11, that staff has identified a new location for their office — 821 Airport Court off Old Highway 99.  

Denney said relocating is necessary as there is not enough space at city hall, especially with the police department, also located in the city hall, looking to accommodate additional staff for new projects, such as its body-worn camera program. 

The department director said the search for new office spaced started in October 2024. The department considered five locations and found the airport site was the least costly and was set up best for office space. 

Staffers of the department are also scattered at different offices across the city, so the move would allow them to move around staffers and managers in a way that makes more sense for certain programs. 

The building is owned by Kaufman Holdings Inc., who wants to lease it for $6,600 monthly for a contract of three years. 

After Denney briefed the council about the contract, city council agreed to place the agreement on their consent agenda for approval at its March 18 meeting. 

The department intends to move next month, according to Denney. As the owner of the building has remodeled the site, the department would only have to make a few improvements before moving in.  

Personnel from the police department will take their old office at the city hall, remodeling the space before moving in by July.