The Tacoma City Council has recently cast their votes, choosing to allocate around $32,000 in contingency funds to support the Larchmont Community Schoolyard Project. In a move aimed to ensure the endeavor's completion, this financial push comes amidst a change in circumstances, one where federal grant funding took an unexpected turn. Council members Joe Bushnell, Kristina Walker, and Sarah Rumbaugh sponsored the funding request, marking a clear commitment to see through the evolution of these important community spaces.
"I am heartened to see that the Community Schoolyards Project partners did not let the loss of a $1 million grant stop them from completing the projects promised to Tacoma," said Council Member Bushnell. In a statement obtained by Tacoma.gov, he shared his personal connection as a former student at Jennie Reed Elementary and his pride in the project's impact. Through the Community Schoolyards Project, the city intends to transform schoolyards into spaces that serve not only as playgrounds but as natural havens for all of Tacoma's inhabitants.
With over 25,000 Tacoma residents living in the South End and East Tacoma neighborhoods close enough to benefit from the pilot program, the initiative is a significant step towards guaranteeing accessibility to quality parks within a 10-minute walk of home. A partnership between Tacoma Public Schools, the Trust for Public Land, and Parks Tacoma has been crucial to breathing life into these undertakings, reimagining schoolyards as neighborhood keystones that can cater to the needs of children and adults alike.
When addressing the project's success, Tacoma Public Schools Board President Korey Strozier said, "Completing the Larchmont project – the fifth so far in Tacoma – means more green spaces for Larchmont kids to thrive and solidifies this space as a community hub." According to a news release, Strozier highlighted the collaborative effort, speaking to the power of unity when a community commits to living out the values of One City, even when facing the fallout of lost federal support. The unwavering persistence of these organizations stands as a testament to their dedication to the project's original intent: to provide and enhance communal outdoor spaces.
More details regarding the Community Schoolyards Project are available for those interested. Information can be found on the Parks Tacoma website, offering a glimpse into how these projects will continue to bring together the people of Tacoma, fostering a sense of belonging and connection in the heart of the city's urban landscape.
