Help share Key Peninsula’s story.
You are the expert on your community. What matters to you may make a difference in your community’s health.
Puyallup, Suquamish, and Squaxin Island people were the first to call Key Peninsula their home.
Key Peninsula’s growth over the years came at the cost of these first people losing this land.
The Key Peninsula, or “KP,” is a rural, unincorporated area of Pierce County, characterized by a close-knit, independent community and a strong connection to the natural environment. It is known for its quiet, scenic lifestyle with abundant access to the Puget Sound.
Key community aspects
About 20,000 people live in Key Peninsula.
Key Peninsula is in west Pierce County, located southwest of Gig Harbor. It includes communities like Key Center, Lakebay, Home, and Longbranch. The area is distinct from urbanized Gig Harbor and focuses on preserving its natural, rural landscape.
Residents, community leaders, and elected officials come together to make Key Peninsula a great place to live.
Since becoming a Community of Focus in 2017, Key Peninsula:
- Engaged the community in participatory budgeting, leading to the planning of the roadside Key Center Path, connecting Key Center to Red Barn Youth Center.
- Partnered with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to build raised garden beds at Key Peninsula Community Services to support food bank supplies.
- Chose Food 4 All to serve as the Key Peninsula Family Resource Center.
Strengths and assets
Many organizations support the Key Peninsula community and residents, including:
- Key Peninsula Civic Center.
- Key Peninsula Community Council—meets every second Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Key Peninsula Fire Department and on Zoom.
- Key Peninsula Community Services.
- Key Peninsula Cooperative Preschool and Forest Friends of the Key Peninsula.
- Key Peninsula Kids Coalition—meets every fourth Thursday at 1 p.m. at Red Barn Youth Center.
- Key Peninsula Partnership for a Healthy Community.
- Longbranch Improvement Club.
- Community Health Care Key Medical Center.
- Food 4 All and Key Peninsula Family Resource Center.
- Joemma Beach and Penrose State Parks.
- Key Pen Parks.
- Key Peninsula News.
- Red Barn Youth Center.
- The Mustard Seed Project.
- YMCA Camps Seymour and Coleman.
Key issues
As part of Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s Community of Focus initiative, the Key Peninsula community is working to improve health, social, and economic opportunities. Growth is a major topic, with concerns regarding transportation infrastructure, water quality, and septic systems.
Community members make their neighborhood a great place to live, work, and play.
Their priorities are:
- Food distribution.
- Transportation.
- Access to resources.
- Health, wellness, and childcare.
- Employment.
Join the monthly Key Peninsula Community Council meeting.
Every second Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
We explore:
- What makes Key Peninsula a good place to live.
- How Key Peninsula can improve.
For more info, email bridgingtocommunity@tpchd.org.
Use this fact sheet to share Key Peninsula’s story.