The Hilltop area of Tacoma is about to get greener with the opening of the J Street Neighborhood Greenway. Community members are gearing up to celebrate the new addition, as the City of Tacoma has announced a festive opening event scheduled for Thursday, September 4, at Edna Travis Park, 2301 South J Street. The event, starting at 5:30 p.m., is an exciting time for families and local residents.
The celebration starts with a family-oriented bike ride, led by 2nd Cycle Tacoma, which will commence from Edna Travis Park and cruise along the new J Street route. The leisurely pedal is designed to be kid- and family-friendly, a perfect way to introduce the greenway to the community. Following the ride, the community is invited to a unique ride-through streamer ceremony at 6 p.m., offering a twist on the traditional ribbon cutting, according to a statement from the city's announcement.
Aside from the initial fanfare, the opening event will allow attendees to learn more about the neighborhood greenway project, listen to brief remarks from project team members, and engage in various community activities. The greenway aims to be more than a simple path; it seeks to be a catalyst for increased safety, fostering a more connected community.
The J Street Neighborhood Greenway has been designed to reduce speeding and enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone on the move. Extending from North 3rd Street to South 27th Street, the two-mile route intersects the community horizontally with east-west connections on South 11th Street, Earnest S. Brazil Street, South 17th Street, and South 18th Street. These strategic connections are expected to boost accessibility to local schools, businesses, parks, and transit, asserting the city's commitment to making its neighborhoods safer and more livable, the city's press release explained.
