4.12 Parks and recreation 4.12.1: Existing conditions in 1907 with a 5-member elected Board of Park Commissioners Parks, recreation and habitat conservation areas in Tacoma are primarily developed and operated After more than 115 years, Metro Parks Tacoma by Metro Parks Tacoma. However, there are continues to maintain and care for Tacoma's numerous other parties who own and operate park resources with a combination of earned park, recreation, and habitat facilities and/or revenue and tax support who partner with Metro Parks Tacoma including: Historical parks adjacent to the MLK City of Tacoma subarea State agencies - Departments of Fish and The following parks are located on the Hilltop Wildlife, Ecology, Transportation, the Recreation just outside of the MLK subarea boundaries and and Conservation Office, and the Washington were instrumental in establishing Tacoma’s and State Historical Society. the MLK district’s park legacy. Other local governments - Pierce County, Port of Tacoma, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Ferry Park - Tacoma's first park was Ferry Park Department, Tacoma Public Utilities, Tacoma at South 14th and Cushman just west of the MLK Housing Authority. subarea boundaries. This tiny park, just a little Educational institutions - Tacoma School over 0.5 acres, was donated by C P and Evelyn District, Tacoma Community College, University Ferry on May 14, 1883. Colonel Ferry platted the of Puget Sound, Evergreen State College, and the C P Ferry Addition to the city and set aside this University of Washington Tacoma. piece of land for a park. He wanted to show the Nonprofit organizations - Citizens for a new and growing City of Tacoma how the Healthy Bay, Tahoma Audubon Society, Cascade European custom of small parks scattered Land Conservancy, Sierra Club, Puget Creek throughout the residence districts could add its Restoration Society. charm and beauty Site specific neighborhood groups. Improvements completed in Ferry Park in 2009 A number of park and recreational facilities are include a kiosk to house utilities with located within or directly adjacent to the MLK interpretive signage describing the history of subarea boundaries. Some additional significant Ferry Park, ornamental steel fence, perimeter parks and facilities are located at the end of sidewalk, gravel paths, picnic tables, park proposed and potential pedestrian, bikeway, benches, small seating wall/benches, play and rail transit connections between the MLK equipment and park sign district and adjacent neighborhoods, and the downtown and waterfront, which have a bearing Wright Park - in 1886 the Tacoma Land on MLK subarea plan goals and objectives. Company under the leadership of its president, Charles B Wright, donated a parcel of land Following is a summary description of each approximately 20 acres in size to the City of sponsor and their significant parks and Tacoma for the sole purpose of being developed recreational facilities. as a public park. The property, located directly adjacent to the MLK subarea, became one of Metro Parks Tacoma Tacoma’s first city parks quickly grew to its current size of 27 acres filling out 10 city Metro Parks Tacoma has its roots in the City of blocks. Tacoma Charter of 1880. The city set up a committee of city council members in 1883 to The City of Tacoma's Changing Education oversee the city's parks. That committee became Through the Arts (CETA) program received 2 the Board of Park Commissioners in 1890, with pieces of artwork by local artist, Larry members appointed by the mayor. Anderson: the Leaf (1976) and Trilogy (1978). With funding through the 2005 Park In 1907 the Washington State Legislature passed Improvement Bond, the park went through a a law allowing cities to form separate park complete renovation of the pathways, utilities, districts, shortly after which Tacoma residents pond, restroom, community building, and voted to establish the Metropolitan Park District sculptures. In 2010 a new playground and spray of Tacoma as a separate municipal corporation ground were added along with interpretive with the ability to collect property taxes for signs. Wright Park also houses a Spanish- support. Metro Parks Tacoma was incorporated American War Cannon and several sculptures Draft Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) MLK Subarea Plan Page 233 Draft Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) MLK Subarea Plan Page 234 From top to bottom: Ferry Park playground Wright Park pond McCarver Park playground Peoples Community Center entrance Draft Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) MLK Subarea Plan Page 235 including The Leaf, Trilogy, Dancing Girls, Stanley Playfield – is located next to Al Davies Lions, Fisherman’s Daughter, and the Ibsen Boys & Girls Club at 1712 South 19th Street just Bust. west of MLK subarea boundary. The 6.51 acre park was established in 1977 and has been W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory - at improved with baseball/softball and football Wright Park was opened in 1908 through a fields. The adjacent Stanley Elementary School generous gift from William W. Seymour. Today, provides play equipment and basketball courts. the historical icon houses a brilliant venue for exotic plant displays from all over the world. Thea’s Park – a 3.4 acre waterfront parcel located at 405 Dock Street was established in MLK parks and facilities 1997 at the entrance to the Foss Waterway in Lots for Tots – this 0.24 acre park is located at Tacoma’s downtown waterfront. The park 1216 South I Street within the MLK subarea. The provides views of ships and tugboats, cranes park has been improved with play equipment lifting cargo, floatplanes, harbor seals, sea lions, and picnic tables. and kayakers. The park accesses the Esplanade along Thea Foss Waterway that connects with McCarver Park – is located at 2301 South J historic warehouses and the Murray Morgan Street directly adjoining McCarver Elementary Bridge and into the UWT campus and historic School within the MLK subarea. The park is a Brewery District. tribute to Zina Linnik (who was abducted and slain in 2007) and includes - a reading circle, In 2008, the Foss Waterway Development playground with high tech interactive play Authority (FWDA) installed a new ADA gangway equipment, tetherball and community gardens. and landing float to Thea's Park, replaced the wharf on the Balfour dock building, added a Neighbors Park – at 0.57 acres, was established gangway to a public pier from the Balfour in 1992 at 722 South I Street in what was once a Wharf, a new 1,200 foot float, and associated vacant lot with blight and crime issues and utilities. Metro Parks maintains the site while which is now a great play and community the FWDA owner's association maintains all of garden area for the neighborhood. the promenade public spaces and the float is maintained and managed by the Seaport Peoples Park – this 2.14 acre park located at Museum. 900 South MLK Way serves Tacoma's Hilltop community with amenities for both active and Peck Field – is located at 1425 South State passive recreation. Recent improvements Street, west of the MLK district. This central include sidewalk repairs, picnic tables and Tacoma facility includes 4 lighted sports fields benches, irrigation upgrades, trees, landscape accommodating adult and girls fast pitch, T-ball, improvements, and relocation of the play area and boys baseball (3rd grade through U12). The and basketball court. Peoples Park hosts MLK complex is generally only open during community events including the summer scheduled league play or tournaments. festival. People’s Community Center – located at 1602 Parks adjacent and of interest to the MLK MLK Jr Way, Peoples Community Center was subarea built as a result of strong community The following parks are located on the Hilltop organization and effort. Known as the Malcolm X just outside of MLK subarea boundaries and/or Center before the name was changed in 1978 to are directly related to proposed MLK trails and Peoples Center, it has served as a cornerstone of pathways. the community for meeting and social functions. Irving Park - is 2.7 acres and was established in 1946 at 1902 South 25th Street just south of With a primary focus on youth and after school MLK subarea boundaries. The neighborhood programming, the central location within the park overlooks the Nalley Valley and has been MLK district and greater Hilltop neighborhood is improved with a basketball court, playground, popular with adults and the many children and and picnic amenities. youth in the area. Sheridan Park - through a cooperative effort of A recently completed renovation enhances the neighbors and the City of Tacoma, this vacant facility, which includes a fitness center and lot at 2347 South Sheridan Avenue, just west of basketball/gym. The indoor swimming pool is the MLK subarea boundaries, was converted to a currently closed due to structural issues. A new small neighborhood park. and upgraded pool and aquatic facility has been Draft Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) MLK Subarea Plan Page 236 Top to bottom left: Tollefson Plaza Tacoma Art Museum Esplanade 21st Street Park Top to bottom right: Museum of Glass Dock Street Marina and Delin Docks Washington State Museum of History Draft Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) MLK Subarea Plan Page 237 designed and partially funded by the City of development of Tacoma. The Prairie Line is Tacoma and the Park District and is scheduled envisioned as a key catalyst for the to open in the near future. revitalization of the Historic Brewery District, a unifying feature connecting different districts of Programs at People’s Community Center include Downtown Tacoma, and a pedestrian/bicycle the Late Night Program, MOCHA Mentoring, gateway to Downtown and the Foss Waterway. Little Village Childcare Center LLC, SLAM – A Summer Camp, AAU Basketball, Weight Room, Tollefson Plaza – is a hardscape amphitheater and facility rentals.