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Earth Day is special for Metro Parks.
That’s probably not surprising for a park district, but beyond the obvious, Earth Day also is the day in 2014 that voters approved the $198 million capital improvement bond. This year, it’s the day Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium opens the “
Washed Ashore” exhibit, which brings home through art the message of “reduce, reuse, recycle.” And also this year, Earth Day coincides with Parks Appreciation Day.
Capital improvements.
Volunteers do a lot to help Metro Parks staff take care of the district. Facility upgrades also are important. Thanks to the $198 million capital improvement bond, we’re partnering to improve Swan Creek Park, adding restrooms to the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, making upgrades to Meadow Park Golf Course, conducting a water quality treatment at Wapato Park and making improvements to Browns Point Lighthouse Park and Tacoma Nature Center. That’s not even mentioning projects at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.
Social media and Metro Parks.
We use a variety of tools to help you keep up to date at Metro Parks: this monthly newsletter,
in-person presentations,
public meetings, signs, brochures, posters, websites and – not least – social media. We’re on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram over multiple accounts, and they’re all great places to find out about upcoming events and more in the district.
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Trivia.
A few weeks ago, an out-of-state reporter visiting Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium asked me how Point Defiance Park got its name. “Oh, it was …” I said, suddenly realizing I couldn’t remember. That was embarrassing. So I did a quick web search and found
an article on the Metro Parks Tacoma website.
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Michael Thompson is
public information manager
of Metro Parks Tacoma. Contact
him at
(253) 305-1092 or
michaelt@tacomaparks.com
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Volunteers make a difference on Earth Day and every day; Park Board Notes April 2017
Did you know that last year alone volunteers contributed more than 147,000 hours to Metro Parks Tacoma? That’s equal to about 71 FTEs – full-time equivalents. Think of it as 71 years of effort volunteers spent helping their district.
Seventy-one YEARS. And that’s without vacation.
Really, though, those 147,000 hours are spread among hundreds of volunteers doing all kinds of things to make their park district better.
Parks Appreciation Day is a great example. It’s an annual event that lets residents improve their local park system in one big event across Pierce County. Metro Parks will have eight official sites where you can chip in. I love Parks Appreciation Day and seeing the passion people have for the parks, which to me is also showing passion for their community. I try to get to each event in the morning and thank the people there. Last year, 800 people put in 2,400 hours for their Metro Parks. For all of Pierce County, the number was more than 2,000 people. This year, Parks Appreciation Day falls on Earth Day, April 22. Do you want to join in? It runs from 9 a.m. to noon.
Clearing brush and digging into the soil is only one way people chip in for their parks. Volunteers are found all over the district doing all sorts of things: Interpreting at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, helping with fun runs and youth sports, assisting at Meadow Park Golf Course and Tacoma Nature Center, and helping through the volunteer programs at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. Volunteers help out in conference rooms, too: Our four advisory councils logged several hundred hours in which volunteers shared their business, cultural, arts and other specialized expertise to make the district more effective.
Like any government agency, Metro Parks has a limited budget. We have excellent staff at Metro Parks, but like the rest of us they have limited time, and we can’t simply hire as many people as we’d like. That makes volunteers crucial.
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What do they get in return? Volunteers get to spend time outdoors, stay active, care for plant and animal life, make memories, and grow as people. Some volunteer as a family. Some volunteer alone and make new friends. Some just enjoy using their time and talents to help their community. After all, you own the parks. Volunteers do what they do for many reasons.
One thing is certain: Without volunteers, Metro Parks would not be what it is today.
Tim Reid has served on the Metro Parks Board of Commissioners since 1995. He is also a past chairman of the Tacoma Public Utility Board. He was born and raised in Tacoma and has two daughters and is a proud grandfather.
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Tim Reid
Metro Parks
Tacoma
B
oard
of Commissioners
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Capital Improvement Projects
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Metro Parks Tacoma names assistant executive director
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Peter Mayer, chief operating officer for the Snohomish Health District, has been selected as assistant executive director of Metro Parks Tacoma, where he will oversee business operations.
His first day is April 27. He succeeds Shon Sylvia, who was appointed Metro Parks executive director following the 2016 retirement of Jack C. Wilson. Read More >
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Key leadership appointments enhance and strengthen the conservation mission
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Conservation long has been in the DNA of Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
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Male Sumatran Tiger Mohan to debut Thursday at Point Defiance Zoo
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12-year-old, 270-pound tiger is in Tacoma through the Species Survival Plan®
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Public invited to a free screening and discussion of the film “A Plastic Ocean”
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For our ocean, the future is dependent on waves of change.
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Zoo eliminates sale of plastic bottles and bags on site
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Working together on behalf of the environment, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Lancer Catering eliminated...
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Thousands of volunteers anticipated for annual Parks Appreciation Day
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April 22 event a chance to show love for local parks.
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Metro Parks plans treatment to curb algae blooms at Wapato Lake
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Improved water quality to make lake safe for pets, fishing and boating
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Washed Ashore exhibit opens April 22
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Steve the Weedy Sea Dragon to make his world debut at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
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Garden design workshop to benefit Point Defiance Japanese Garden
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April 29 event to be led by local garden and landscape designers.
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Have a brew, support the zoo
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Sample a taste of summer and see Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in an unforgettable light.
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Upcoming Events & Public Meetings
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, April 14
Saturday, April 15
Sunday, April 16
Saturday, April 22
Sunday, April 23
Saturday, April 29
Saturday, May 6
Sunday, May 7
Wednesday, May 10
Friday, May 12
Saturday, May 13
Sunday, May 14
Thursday, May 18
Saturday, May 20
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PUBLIC MEETINGS
Board of Park Commissioners Meeting
Monday, Apr. 10 & 24
Monday, May 8 & 22
Capital Improvement Committee
Wednesday, Apr. 12 & 26
Wednesday, May 10 & 24
Monday, Apr. 17
Monday, May 15
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Metro Parks Tacoma | (253) 305-1000 | metroparkstacoma.org
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