Neighborhood News
- Tacoma Habitat at Home Pilot Comes to Private Yards This Summer
- A new pilot from Pierce Conservation District and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is helping homeowners near the Wapato Hills and Trafton Slope open spaces turn private yards into native habitat, whether for pollinators, wildlife, lower water use, or fewer chemicals. Free site visits will help residents figure out what fits their space, time, and budget. No major yard overhauls required. Adding a few native plants or a pollinator-friendly corner counts. Boundary map and program details coming to the PCD website soon.
- News Tribune and Olympian Staff Pledge to Strike
- Ninety percent of union members at the News Tribune, The Olympian, Idaho Statesman, Tri-City Herald, and Bellingham Herald have signed a pledge to strike against parent company McClatchy Media over wages and workload. According to the union, after 11 months of bargaining, the company has offered 2% annual raises while asking journalists to produce 20% more stories and 50% more videos this year. The current wage floor is $52,000. Reporters say the pledge is about the long-term sustainability of local journalism. A strike fund is open at GoFundMe (search “Stand with Journalists for the Future of Local News”). More info: idwanewsguilds.org.
- University Place and the YMCA Team Up for Youth Recreation
- The City of University Place and the Pearl Street Family YMCA are partnering to bring youth recreation programming to UP parks and school district facilities. Skills and drills sports clinics roll out this summer, with a youth basketball league and another volleyball clinic on deck for fall. The YMCA will handle registration, facility scheduling, and staffing. The city and Y will market programs jointly. Schedules and pricing coming in the next few weeks.
- Got Bulky Junk? Tacoma’s Call-2-Haul Takes It
- The city reminds residential solid waste customers that they’re already paying for two curbside pickups or self-haul drop-offs a year for large items: furniture, appliances, yard equipment, that mystery thing in the garage. The cost is built into your residential rate. Commercial and multifamily customers can schedule for a fee. Easier than a trip to the Recovery & Transfer Center. Schedule at cityoftacoma.org/call2haul.
Local Governance
- Pierce County Hosts Kickoff for State’s First Climate Action Plan
- On Earth Day, state and local leaders gathered at the Pierce County Environmental Services Building at Chambers Bay to launch Washington’s first Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. Developed with input from tribes, local governments, businesses, and communities, the plan maps cross-sector steps including home energy upgrades, heat pumps, faster EV adoption, and port and freight electrification, all aimed at hitting Washington’s net-zero-by-2050 target. The Department of Ecology projects full implementation could create more than 38,000 jobs and generate over $40 billion in income statewide by 2050, while saving Washington nearly $17 billion. Pierce County was chosen to host the first regional roundtable because of its industrial base, port operations, and growing electrification demand. The plan is a framework, not a spending bill. Actual projects will hinge on future funding decisions and federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants. Read it: ecology.wa.gov
- Downtown Fountains Are Coming Back to Life
- After years of equipment failure and leaks, the city is reviving the four fountains that anchor downtown. Frost Park (offline since 2020) and South 11th and Broadway (offline since 2022) came back online last month at $60,000 and $65,000 respectively. Tollefson Plaza is in repairs after going down earlier this month. McCormick Park, out since 2016, is being assessed for a larger structural and equipment overhaul. The city plans roughly $215,000 in additional summer repairs and about $35,000 per fountain in annual maintenance, all drawn from the 2025/2026 budget set aside well before the city’s recent hiring freeze.
- Lakewood Water District Breaks Ground on Fourth PFAS Filter
- On April 15, Lakewood Water District celebrated the start of construction on its fourth granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration system, designed to remove PFAS from groundwater. Once online, it will filter roughly 2 million gallons per day for thousands of residents. The District, which serves upwards of 200,000 Pierce County residents, has been addressing PFAS contamination since 2016 by drilling new wells and installing GAC filters on impacted sources. The new project is supported by state legislators and a Public Works Board low-interest loan and grant.
Arts & Entertainment
- Hilltop Artists Spring Glass Sale @ Hilltop Artists | Saturday (5/2), 10 AM to 1 PM
- If your mantle is tired of fake succulents, hit the Hilltop Artists Spring Glass Sale for handblown vases, sculptures, and jewelry by students, instructors, and alumni. Watch the Hot Shop crew at work, then raid the Alumni Artists Market. Morning entry requires a free timed ticket, so reserve before you go. Proceeds support tuition-free glass arts instruction for 700+ students a year.
- 2026 Historic Homes Tour @ St. Patrick’s Church | Saturday (5/2) at 10 AM
- If you’ve ever slowed your stroll to peek past a North End porch, this is your permission slip. Spend the weekend stepping inside eight private historic gems in north Tacoma, admiring architectural quirks, and hearing how Tacomans actually lived. Wear good socks. Bring curious eyes.
- Dine We Must, Farm-to-Table at Fort Nisqually | Friday, June 26
- Fort Nisqually’s beloved farm-to-table dinner returns for a whimsical evening of appetizers, a cash bar (benefiting the Fort Nisqually Foundation), 19th century crafts like leatherworking and soap carving, a buffet from a local caterer, a chef’s menu presentation, live music, and desserts baked in the Fort’s period kitchen. Dress is upscale PNW to cocktail attire. Living history clothing always welcome. Tickets are on sale and will go fast. Pathways are grass and gravel, so plan footwear accordingly.
- Free Workshop: How to Apply for GAP Funding | Wednesday, May 27, 6 to 7:30 PM
- Filmmaker and 2024 Grants for Artist Projects recipient Derek Nunn breaks down the application step by step at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch (1102 Tacoma Ave. S.), including tips from his own process plus Q&A. Free with registration, which closes at 2 PM the day of the event. Presented in partnership with Artist Trust and Tacoma Public Library.
Opportunities
- City of Tacoma Mural Artist Roster, Apply by June 2
- The City of Tacoma is updating its Mural Artist Roster, the list private building owners, community groups, and the City use to find and hire muralists. Accepted artists have their portfolio hosted publicly so prospective clients can reach them directly. You’ll need a 250 word artist statement, a short bio, and 8 work samples with descriptions. Pierce County residents, 18+; current Tacoma Arts Commission members and City employees not eligible. AI generated work won’t be accepted as samples. Artist teams welcome. Already on the roster? Resubmit your portfolio with no panel review required. Apply at tacomaarts.submittable.com by Tuesday, June 2 at 5 PM.
- VFW National Day of Service @ Baltimore Park | Saturday (5/2), 9 AM to noon
- The Narrows Bridge VFW Post is leading a Baltimore Park improvement project, spreading fresh mulch around trees and along the walking path. Tacoma Metro Parks supplies the tools and materials. Volunteers needed. Show up, work outside, do good.
- Sea Scout Ship 110 is Recruiting Women Mentors
- Not every teen has someone in their corner. Sea Scout Ship 110 is looking for women who want to show up, mentor, and make a real difference. No boating experience required, just heart, patience, and a love for the water. Drop in at the Tacoma Youth Marine Center, Mondays 7 to 9 PM or Saturdays 9 AM to 4 PM.
Recreation
- Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater Returns to Point Defiance Zoo
- Starting May 2, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s outdoor animal show is back. Watch a turkey vulture soar, a sloth hang upside down, and an aardvark use her 12 inch tongue to slurp her favorite food. Shows at 11:30 AM Monday through Friday and 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM Saturday and Sunday. Meet keepers, connect with the animals, and learn how to help wildlife in your own backyard.
- Tacoma City Marathon and Ghost Marathon | May 2 and 3
- The granddaddy of local marathons returns the first weekend of May, typically drawing 2,000 finishers across distances. The full marathon starts at Tacoma Narrows Airport, crosses the Narrows Bridge, climbs into Point Defiance, runs along the Thea Foss Waterway, and finishes at Dune Peninsula Park. The half marathon follows the same route minus the waterway. The 5K and 10K start and finish at Dune Peninsula and run down Ruston Way. Sunday is the headliner, but “Ghost of Tacoma” Saturday races give you the same courses with fewer runners and road closures. Stack both days if you’re that kind of runner. Registration open through race day, $10 to $190. tcmaevents.com.
- Pierce County’s Spring and Summer Race Calendar
- After the Tacoma City Marathon clears the streets, the calendar stays full. The Mud Mountain Dam Marathon and Half (May 30, Buckley) is a fully paved, downhill Boston qualifier with 1,200 feet of net elevation loss. Fleet Feet Tacoma’s The Big Run (June 3) is a free 5K celebrating Global Running Day. Sound to Narrows (June 13), Tacoma’s most famous race since 1973, runs 2K, 5K, and 12K through Point Defiance with extra hills this year thanks to construction. The Independence Day 5K (July 4) starts at 37th and Vassault and finishes at Owen Beach, with a kids 1K walk/run at 9:15 AM. Lace up.
- May is Bike Month: Bike Everywhere Day @ People’s Park | Sunday, May 17, noon to 3 PM
- The city celebrates Bike Month with a community gathering at People’s Park (MLK Jr. Way side). Free basic bike tune-ups from Opalescent Cyclery, low-cost helmets from Bespoke BikeWorks, community resources from Pierce Transit, plus a self-guided scavenger hunt with raffle prizes. Ride, roll, or just stop by. Sponsored by Evergreen Personal Injury Counsel. More Bike Month happenings: tacoma.gov/BikeMonth.
- Bike to the Broadway Farmers Market | Thursday, May 21, 10 AM to 2 PM
- Wrap Bike Month by pedaling to the Downtown Farmers Market on Broadway between S. 9th and S. 11th. Stop by the Tacoma On the Go booth for local bike resources and summer event info, and snag a $5 market token while supplies last (riders only). Sponsored by Evergreen Personal Injury Counsel.
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