By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com
In an event running in conjunction with the Raise For Rowyn 5K run in Tenino on Saturday morning, Tenino Mayor Wayne Fournier held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open Tenino City Park’s newest playground addition — pump tracks.
Having already completed the beginner and intermediate pump tracks earlier this month, only the final advanced level track needed to be built to complete the city’s set.
Fournier began working on getting the tracks four years ago after visiting a portable pump track that was set up at a park in Olympia. The city purchased the pump tracks from the Tacoma based playground equipment supplier Highwire using state funding and American Rescue Plan Act money, according to previous reporting by The Chronicle.
“I just want to acknowledge Peter Tammetta from Highwire. They’re our contractor that helped us build the park, build the pump tracks, and their expertise has helped us a lot,” Fournier said. “So if anybody out there is looking to build a park in their town, if any of you are mayors out there, get a hold of Peter Tammetta.”
He added parks are important for community building and providing safe places for children to play while bonding and making memories.
“We could not have done this without our representative from the 20th District, Peter Abbarno,” added Fournier.
Abbarno, who helped secure the state money used for the project, was given the honor of cutting the ribbon and officially opening up Tenino’s pump tracks to both Tenino residents and those in surrounding communities. He thanked Tenino’s city government and staff for working alongside him to get the pump tracks.
“All of this takes a good quality partnership, and that’s what this was. To have these parks, which improve the quality of life, tourism, economic development, it’s about partnerships,” Abbarno said. “And I can assure you the City of Tenino has a great partnership with my office and I’m looking forward to a healthy one in the future as well.”
Tenino City Park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and located on 201 Washington Ave. East.