Historic Preservation Grants Open to Sept 30

The list is not as long as it should be. History needs to be better preserved in Pierce County and the Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission is seeking those who want to help catalog and preserve it. Their historic preservation grants help rebuild places that are intrinsically historic and unique to our past….

We did it!

The Parkland community raised enough money through grants, donations, and a state allocation to make the earnest money and now, the down payment on the Parkland School! With that, PLU has agreed to hold a contract for the balance of the funds at 0% interest. On May 10, the transaction closed and Parkland Community Assn….

Saving Parkland School – a success story

by Julie Collison May 17, 2024It isn’t often that we get the opportunity to do something that will leave a legacy for ourchildren. 2 years ago, the Parkland Community had just that. News from our countycouncil representative, Jani Hitchin, came to the folks attending the ScandinavianCultural Center meeting that the Parkland School was being considered…

Historical road from Nisqually to Spanueh Station

Historical information on Spanaway, Spanueh Station of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, and native uses of the area Testimony for the Hearings Examiner on Pierce County Village, April 29, 2024 To local Indians, the area was referred to as “spáduwe” – “where [camas or fern] roots are plentiful”.[1] Multiple tribes used the area for hunting…

Rally to save Parkland School, March 9

We need to keep our visibility of our effort going!  We haven’t rallied for awhile.  Plus, PLU is having a Track invitational that will bring extra traffic to Parkland.  WHEN:  Meet at 9:30 AMWHERE:  Parkland Transit Center 121st St S and Pacific Ave S.BRING:  Wear red, bring a yard sign if you have one, or other rally…

Immediate need for saving Parkland School

By Gayle Carlson The Parkland Community Assn. (PCA) is raising funds to purchase the school from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU).  Our goal is for the building to become a community center for youths, families, and seniors. In November the PCA made a $25,000 deposit into escrow as required by the Purchase and Sales Agreement. We…

Donate now, a matching donation is available

Right now, if you donate to the Parkland School purchase, your donation will be matched by a local philanthropist. Please give to the cause so Parkland can reopen this building as a community services center. PLU has generously offered to lower the purchase price by $350,000, if the PCA can raise another $500,000 toward the…

Opinion: Linda Carlson, Parkland

TO: Parkland Community Association FR: Linda Carlson, Parkland School student, 1956-1963 I am a Parkland School graduate and a member of a family that has been in Parkland and associated with Parkland School since the early 1930s, so almost 90 years. I am writing regarding the value of the Parkland School structure and its grounds…

After your polar plunge, try a first day hike

Washington State Parks have a new tradition, First Day Hikes. Besides being a great way to get some exercise, the parks provide staff led a self-guided tours with some history of the park. As well as the history, you can get a pin, showing you participated. Go to the link and look for a park…

Garfield Street Fair absence sprouts alternative

In 2023, the Garfield Street Fair in Parkland is not happening. So the newly established Parkland Community Association took matters and the date, as an opportunity to talk about how much the community could benefit from a new community center in the form of the old Parkland School building at a rally August 19, 2023….

You know it as Eastgate Road, but…

By Marianne Lincoln One of my favorite annual events is taking the tour of Fort Lewis put on by the Nisqually Tribe. Amazing history, great snacks and good company. Although the tour enters and exits from a normally locked gate on the reservation, much of the driving is along Eastgate Road. It is called that…

Spanaway Cemetery cleanup May 24

Four congregations of youth from local churches are coming to the historic Spanaway cemetery this year on May 24th, to clean up prior to the Memorial Day Weekend.  They’ll be arriving at the Cemetery at different times between 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Some youth and leaders will be arriving in the evening between 5 p.m….