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Taylor Bay Park

Location
Pierce County
Date Conserved
2008
Acreage
39
Landowner
Key Pen Parks
Property Type
Open to the Public
Property Attributes
Forests, Shorelines, Streams, Wetlands/Ponds
What to Expect
In the mood for a quiet picnic overlooking the water? This rustic park is the place to go. If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, wheel your kayak down to water's edge and head out for a paddle, but be sure to check the tides before you go.
Address
17916 76th St. KPS
Longbranch, WA 98351
[-122.77441507000, 47.18804054880]
All Properties Map

Taylor Bay Park

Taylor Bay Park is one of the newest parks in Key Pen Parks’ portfolio, and is located on the southwestern tip of the Key Peninsula near the quiet community of Longbranch.

Covering around 39 acres, Taylor Bay Park encompasses a rich variety of native plant and animal life. A dense, maritime forest of Douglas fir, aspen, and Western hemlock hides a small meadow full of native flowers. Taylor Bay Creek runs through the forested upland, creating wetlands before spilling out into the mouth of the estuary, where there is abundant bird life, including herons and kingfishers. At low tide the gravel beach extends out to reveal acres of mud flats teeming with marine life including colonies of clams, oysters, and sand dollars.

Great Peninsula Conservancy first initiated this project in fall 2006 after realizing that the site was critical refuge and foraging habitat for juvenile salmon migrating along the western shoreline of Key Peninsula. Great Peninsula Conservancy helped to convene partners to protect this property, and the Trust for Public partnered with Key Pen Parks to secure the funds to buy the land using grants from Pierce County Conservation Futures Fund and Washington’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board.

Taylor Bay includes picnic tables, water access, and non-motorized boat access.

Accessibility

Parking: Information available here.

Trail map: https://www.keypenparks.com/uploads/4/5/0/8/45082793/taylor_bay_april_2020.pdf.

Project Partners

Key Pen Parks
Pierce County Conservation Futures Program
The Trust for Public Land
Wahington State Recreation and Conservation Office