Celebrate the Children Campaign for Nist Park

The Friends of Normandy Park Foundation has joined a community effort to help raise awareness (and funds) for park equipment including: swings, an in-ground slide, a horse sculpture and history signage at Nist Park. Please join us, and your community in helping to raise funds for play equipment at Nist!  

Over $41,885 has been raised so far, and we’re well on the way to the target goal of $45,000. Please contact Normandy Park City Hall if you would like to make a tax-deductible donation. Make checks payable to our partner, the City of Normandy Park, side-mark the check with the words “Nist Park Playground Fund”. Mail or drop off the check at Normandy Park City Hall, 801 SW 174th St., Normandy Park, WA 98166. Message Shelly Bedingfield with questions at: sbedingfield@normandyparkwa.gov or Ken Courter at: kcourter@normandyparkwa.gov

Emmet J. Nist, a longtime resident of Normandy Park, directed in his 1996 will that he wanted his property at 242 SW Normandy Road to be given to the City of Normandy Park “so long as it used solely as a park.” In August 2002 City Council accepted this remarkable gift from Emmet with the conditions of the will. An ad-hoc committee formed and worked to create E.J. Nist Family Park. The community gathered at a BBQ at the Park to celebrate in 2004 and honor and receive Emmet Nist’s bequest.

The Parks Commission developed a community-based Master Plan in 2005-2006 and was awarded WA Recreation and Conservation (RCO) funding to further develop the Park. The community gathered again in 2016 for an official dedication with a memorial plaque, seating area, and special planting. A year later, the Parks Commission hosted a series of open house events to collect feedback from the community and gather ideas as they developed the Parks Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS). The PROS plan outlined amenities that community members requested for the E. J. Nist Park. The City of Normandy Park began receiving donations in July of this year, to realize the plans from the 2006 Master Plan and the 2018 PROS Plan and to begin building a playground in the Park. 

The campaign is called “Celebrate the Children,” and its goal is to install a swing set, an in-ground slide, and a history wall. Please contact City Hall if you would like to make a tax-deductible donation.

Visit https://friendsofnormandypark.org/partners to donate online.