ABOUT THE PARK DISTRICT
FORMATION Key Peninsula Metropolitan Park District (KPMPD) was formed by a special election in May of 2004 with over 60 % voting in favor to form the district. KPMPD is the successor to Key Peninsula Parks & Recreation District, which was created in a 1972 general election. Key Peninsula Metropolitan Park District is an independent, regional unit of government similar to a fire district, hospital district, utility district or school district. Presently, our funding source is the ZooTrek sales tax, collected by Pierce County. Our Park system includes Key Peninsula Sports Complex and Fairgrounds, Home Park, and we cooperatively manage Rocky Creek Conservation Area with Pierce County. The Park District is also in the process of acquiring approximately 360 acres from the State of Washington Department of Natural Resource. A five member Board of Commissioners govern the Key Peninsula Metropolitan Park District. Commissioners serve six-year staggered terms and are the legislative body responsible for adopting the District budget and developing goals, policies and regulations, which will guide the District's future.
Key Peninsula Metropolitan Park District Boundary: The Park District boundary is from the Purdy Bridge to the East, Devil's Head in the South, Mason County Line to the West and Kitsap County Line to the north. We are bounded by water on three sides: Henderson Bay, Case Inlet, & Carr Inlet. The Key Peninsula is approximately 25 miles long and 5 miles wide at its widest point. The peninsula covers approximately 100 sq miles and has a population of approximately 18,000.
HISTORY In 1972, the Key Peninsula Park & Recreation District was created in the general election and certified by the Pierce County Auditor on November 28, 1972. The first park board was comprised of President James Penfield, Roy Madsen, Don Mills, Dora Lynn Rice, and Doris Blunt. The district's first major undertaking was the creation of Key Peninsula Playfield (Volunteer Park). Mr. Penfield was able to negotiate a lease with Pierce County for the 20-acre parcel. Timber from the leased land was sold at fair market value, and the proceeds were used in the construction of one of the fields. Many community-minded individuals, along with their wives and children, assisted in the work for the park. Volunteer Park, as its name states, was built by many volunteers with construction of the fields closest to the Key Peninsula Hwy starting in 1976. The park was dedicated in 1977 as an athletic park for the residents of the Key Peninsula. The big field with lights was completed in the early 1980's The voters of Key Peninsula had supported Key Peninsula Park & Recreation District by passing levies for the operation of Volunteer Park. The park has served as a model for other communities in the State of Washington as an example of success of what volunteers can do for their community. Over the years, the Park District has improved Volunteer Park to include activities from baseball to tennis, horseshoes, soccer, skateboarding, Cub Scout jamborees and more. Volunteer Park was later changed to Key Peninsula Sports Complex and Fair grounds, but to those individuals who started the facility, the name will always be Volunteer Park. Key Peninsula Metropolitan Park District will strive to increase recreational opportunities for the residents of the Key Peninsula and always remember the original park district and its legion of volunteers.
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