Thank you for caring about a walkable, accessible waterfront for Tacoma.

Waterfront Tacoma sponsored by The University of Washington Tacoma Urban Studies department and Walk the Waterfront has brought together student researchers with leaders from our community. We thank UWT's Dr. Anne Taufen Wessels, Dr. Joel Baker, Dr. Brian Coffey, Dr. Jose Rios and Dr. Jim Gawel, University of Puget Sound's Dr. Dan Sherman, City Council Member and Architect David Boe, The News Tribune's Peter Callaghan, Exit133's Derek Young, City Council Member and Cascade Land Conservancy's Ryan Mello, Greater MetroParks Foundation Executive Director Drew Ebersole, City of Tacoma's Steve Atkinson, Port of Tacoma Commissioner Clare Petrich, The News Tribune columnist Peter Callaghan, Citizen for a Healthy Bay's Leslie Ann Rose, Thea Foss Development Authority's Su Dowie, Foss Waterway Seaport's Tom Cashman, Walk the Waterfront's Lara Herrmann, and the many members of our community who have contributed greatly to the vision for a completed seven mile waterfront walkway linking the Tacoma Dome with the parks of Pt. Defiance.
You have opinions about Tacoma's waterfront. We'd like to hear them. Click CONTACT and keep in touch.

Click here for information on the January 28, 2010 Waterfront Tacoma community forum

CONTINUING THE VISION ... REALIZING OUR POTENTIAL

For over 60 years Tacomans have dreamed of a pedestrian walkway along the water, from the head of the Thea Foss to the beach and trails of Point Defiance.

To bring the dream to life we've formed Walk the Waterfront, a nonprofit organization dedicated to a continuous, accessible, vibrant path along those seven miles. We see so many opportunities emphasizing healthy lifestyles, recreation, business, conservation, culture and history.

We have three simple goals. First, we want the waterfront to drive millions of dollars into the local economy. Second, we want to show how a vigorous urban waterfront can actually improve the eco-health of Puget Sound. Third, we want to complete the dream of a world-class recreation and education resource accessible to and enjoyed by all Tacomans.

To achieve these goals and protect shoreline priorities, we need a community-wide vision for the waterfront. We have nearly 80 percent of what we need already in place. Our next step is a series of conversations with all the stakeholders on the waterfront: the many governments, private landowners, citizen users and nonprofit groups that make up the owner/user "checkerboard." We'll invite these stakeholders to create a shared plan to finish the last 20 percent of the waterfront.

In this process we'll set priorities among opportunities and obstacles.
Do we have places that are ill-lit and unsafe? Dangerous stretches of road? Can we move faster to fix environmental problems? Can some sites be put to even better use? Can the hum-drum become beautiful?

These are the questions. . .

Our community has the answers for what is in the best interest of Tacoma. Add your opinions. Help turn the dreams into reality. Join us.


Walk the Waterfront ... Continuing the vision ... Realizing our potential







Thank you to all who joined us for National Family Volunteer Day as we partnered with Citizens for a Healthy Bay to help restore Tacoma's shoreline at Tahoma Salt Marsh. Send us an email to volunteer in 2010 or get answers to your questions. Remember...Students under age 16 must bring an adult chaperone