Changes Happening in Gig Harbor

Though some parts of Gig Harbor have stayed the same a lot of it has changed over the years. My sister and brother can see the obvious changes when they come back for a visit. There are plans to make more changes as well as new construction.

This morning I went for a walk in a new section of what is called Cushman trail. It is now just over six miles stretch of trail that goes along power lines next to Highway 16. The trail can only be done by either walking or bicycling. The new section is almost two miles long. Cushman trail starts about a mile on the Gig Harbor side after crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and now ends entering into North Gig Harbor. So if you either walk or ride you do not have to go through the streets of Gig Harbor. It is on the east side of highway 16. There are five places that you can enter to the Cushman trail so you do not have to do the whole thing. There is parking available as well. I could see some new construction going on while walking the trail. It looks like they are putting in some more new homes. After my walk I did some driving through North Gig Harbor. Originally it was a few shopping centers along with a YMCA and St. Anthony’s Hospital nearby. Now there are some new homes near the YMCA. In the near future North Gig Harbor population will likely be bigger than Gig Harbor. Other changes happening will be building a new shopping center on the west side of Highway 16 just before entering Gig Harbor. It will include a new Fred Meyer Super Grocery store along with a bowling alley, some other small stores, and of course a coffee shop. Currently Fred Meyer is on the west side directly across where the new location will be. The biggest problem with the new location has to do with driving and parking. Without change a lot more congestion will happen since already there are three shopping centers on that side of the highway.

Another change is what will happen with the shopping center that houses Fred Meyer right now. There supposed to be retail store taking the place of Fred Meyer; however, there are several other locations within the shopping centers that have closed down or moved. I hope they have new plans for it otherwise it will be little traffic going through it and will hurt the other stores already there.

In downtown Gig Harbor the Peninsula Shopping Center which was the original shopping center since I was a little kid at the least is looking to do a remake as well.  The grocery and hardware stores that were originally there are now gone. Though there are other retail stores it does not have the same appeal it once had. Usually it only draws people like me is that the post office is still there. The city is trying to figure what changes to happen to it. The thought is to possibly make it into a small mini-mall or build condos. Changes will not occur there until after having input of the citizens.

Gig Harbor still considered to be a small town but it is not the same as when I was growing up. Some I would say call it progress. What I like is that there are trails like Cushman that you ride or walk along.