Where Things Stand on the Dash Point Pier
Top photo: The Dash Point Pier, closed since 2021. Photo: Holli Krohn Luther.
For more than a century, neighbors have fished from a public pier at Dash Point. Since July 2021, that pier has been fenced off. Here is a short update on the closure and the plan to rebuild, based on Parks Tacoma’s project page as of Oct. 22, 2026.
Why it closed
Parks Tacoma hired an engineering firm after reports of structural concerns. Based on a preliminary assessment completed July 23, 2021, the agency closed the pier for public safety until it can be repaired or replaced. The closure includes the deck and the area under the pier. Parks Tacoma says going on or under the pier, by foot or by boat, is unsafe and prohibited. Other areas of the beach at Dash Point Park remain open.
A long history on the water
According to Parks Tacoma, the community has fished from a public pier here since 1917. In 1995 a concrete fishing pier nearly 500 feet long replaced an older timber-and-concrete structure, with a $929,721 state grant. Restrooms, parking and access improvements followed in 1996, the restrooms were upgraded in 2006, and the park’s historic fountain was restored in 2010. A 2014 engineering review estimated the pier had 20 to 30 years of life left.
The plan
Parks Tacoma now says engineering analysis points to full reconstruction or replacement of the pier. Engineering consultants completed in-water and upland core sampling in November and December 2024, plus more geotechnical work for seismic analysis.
The agency held public meetings in May 2023 and on Oct. 6, 2025, at the Center at Norpoint. At the 2025 meeting, Parks Tacoma staff and the consultant MacKay Sposito presented a design development plan for the pier and a schematic design for the whole park. Ideas under discussion include a picnic shelter, playground equipment, the basketball/tennis court, walkways and plantings, parking, beach use and sea-level change.
Parks Tacoma’s page does not list a construction start date or a reopening date, so we are not going to guess one. The most recent update posted on the page is dated October 2025.
Where to fish in the meantime
There are no other designated fishing areas at Dash Point Park. Parks Tacoma suggests Les Davis Pier and the Point Defiance Marina, and points to the state’s list of fishing piers.
Stay in the loop
Parks Tacoma’s project page invites neighbors to stay informed and share input. The project contact listed is Kristi Evans, (253) 305-1054. We will update this story when the agency posts new information.
Sources
- Parks Tacoma, Dash Point Park & Pier project page (re-checked Oct. 22, 2026): https://www.parkstacoma.gov/project/dash-point-park-pier/
- WDFW fishing piers: http://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/fishing-piers