Overview

When civic benefactor Clinton P. Ferry donated a graceful, elliptically shaped plot of land in 1883 for the first park in Tacoma, he hoped his adopted hometown would do him proud and become a veritable city of parks. The young community did not disappoint. Landmarks such as Wright Park, Lincoln Park, and Point Defiance Park graced the landscape by 1900, a testament to Tacoma's appreciation for beauty, conservation, and recreation, which continues to this day. In 1907, residents voted to establish the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma, Washington's first independent parks municipality, to act as steward of these civic treasures. A century later, Metro Parks Tacoma embraces some 57 parks covering 2,700 acres, as well as swimming pools, sports complexes, community centers, and recreational programs for all ages.

Full Product Details

9780738548968

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Authors Melissa McGinnis and Doreen BeardSimpkins have researched the history of Tacoma's parks for more than 20 years. McGinnis works as the manager of historic assets for Metro Parks Tacoma, and BeardSimpkins served as the agency's parks historian for the 2005 centennial celebration of Point Defiance Park. These historic images come from the collections of Metro Parks Tacoma, the Tacoma Public Library, the Washington State Historical Society, the Tacoma Historical Society, and many private citizens who graciously shared their photographs of Tacoma's beloved green spaces.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available