By Marianne Lincoln

Parkland and Spanaway have been communities longer than Tacoma has been a city. Years ago, we had the Parkland Roundup which included a rodeo on Gonyea Park and the surrounding area that is now housing. (I really don’t understand why it isn’t still park land. Someone please explain.)

So our sense of community took a big shift in the 1980’s. Many of our big community events dwindled and disappeared. Parkland Community Association recreated itself two years ago to start the effort to save the Parkland School from demolition and succeeded! They proved the sense of community is still there, we just need some hands to help run the events.

The big shift was also demographic. The influx of diverse ethnic groups, refugees, immigrants, foreign nationals, and just people trying to get less expensive housing than in Tacoma and King County came out here, where its less expensive because there is not much infrastructure.

We need a reason to get together! After sitting at the Roy Parade on the 4th of July, it doesn’t really look all that difficult. You need organizers, people to barricade the cross streets, and potential participants and attendees to know it is going to happen.

Can Parkland Spanaway capitalize on its military, ethnic groups, LGBTQ+, and special interest clubs (particularly cars) to get together for a parade down C Street from Parkland School to Sprinker? We could call it the Military and Cultural Community Pride Parade and time it in late June.

Imagine marching bands, dancers, Scandinavians, Native Americans, Chamorro, Mexican, Scottish, Asians, Italians, Irish, LGBTQ, military units, horses, dogs, clowns, public officials, boats, planes, and cars all in one parade! It really would be an amazing event.

Who is with me and wants to help?

Photos from the Roy 4th of July Parade, 2024.