The Swan Creek Park entrance at Pioneer Way and the park area on the southeast side of Swan Creek will be closed weekdays Sept. 9-18 while crews dredge a sediment pond.

The Pioneer Way entrance and all park property on the southeast side of Swan Creek will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The rest of the park will remain open. Park users can enter the park off of East Roosevelt Avenue.

Pierce County will post signs at trailheads and on either side of the worksite warning park users of the maintenance work and closures. People in the park should use caution around the worksite and follow instructions from the crew.

The sediment pond, which is located near the parking lot off of Pioneer Way, was built to protect Pioneer Way from flooding. Pierce County dredges the pond every two to three years to ensure sediment build-up does not cause problems during high water flows.

“This maintenance work is needed to protect Pioneer Way and surrounding residences and businesses during the flood season,” said Harold Smelt, Pierce County Public Works surface water manager. “We recognize these closures are inconvenient, so we appreciate the community’s patience.”

Before the pond was built, the area where Pioneer Way crosses over Swan Creek would become clogged with sediment when high water flows came down Swan Creek during rain events. The sediment pond provides additional water storage during storms and collects sediment to protect Pioneer Way where it crosses over Swan Creek.

Park users can visit www.piercecountywa.org/SwanCrParkClosure to learn more about the project and get regular updates about the closure.