Co-Create to Recreate with Parks Tacoma

Parks Tacoma is set to engage the community in a new participatory budgeting initiative for four local community centers: People's Community Center, Eastside Community Center, Center at Norpoint, and STAR Center. Each center is designating $10,000 for community members to allocate towards desired improvements, including upgrading equipment, expanding class offerings, or enhancing facilities. Public meetings are scheduled in March, where attendees can not only voice their ideas but also enjoy a complimentary dinner. Participants can submit and review ideas online until April 30, fostering a collaborative environment. Following this idea collection phase, leadership committees composed of community center users will work with Parks Tacoma staff to shape the most favored suggestions into viable proposals.

The final proposals will be presented for community voting in the fall, ensuring that local voices drive the decision-making process. This participatory budgeting model is building upon the success of the previous round, which engaged over 1,000 voters and transformed numerous ideas into funded projects. The initiative underscores the importance of community involvement in local governance and the enhancement of public spaces.