About The North Slope Historic District Park
 

Located at the corner of North K & North 8th Streets, the park has been a project of the North Slope Historic District, the City of Tacoma and the North End Council. North Slope residents suggested the idea in the early 1990s, but the North Slope Historic District had no money to proceed. Our representatives on the North End Neighborhood Council eventually secured the funds from the Thea Foss Bond Issue given to each neighborhood council, but it took years to work out the transfer of the property from Tacoma Power to the City.

Metro Parks was the designing and developing agency, although the property is owned by the city. The small park contains a wooden piece of play equipment for small children, seating, handicapped ramp, and plantings. The design and equipment in the park were approved by the Landmarks Commission.

The park's maintenance is done by Metro Parks.

The park is dedicated to Valerie Sivinski, former Tacoma Historic Preservation Officer who provided guidance for the creation of the North Slope Historic District.

Neighborhood volunteers maintain the beds and plants that we originally planted that help to make “Valerie's Park" special. Everything is growing well and looking good. Thanks to all of you for picking up and helping keep our gem of a park tidy.

From Distribution Yard to Play Yard: Before the Park

by Jay Turner

Editor's Note:  The following article is reprinted from the April-May-June 2002 issue of "The Trolley Times." For many more Trolley Times articles, click here.

Our North Slope Historic District Park is located on a property that Tacoma City Light obtained in November 1951. Tacoma City Light purchased a vacant lot for a "Distribution Yard;" the city was growing and needed more electrical capacity. A photograph taken on November 17, 1953 shows transformers with connecting power lines indicating that the "yard" was ready for service.

The term "Distribution Yard" gave way to "Substation" and the K St. Substation remained in active service until late 1983, according

to information obtained from Tacoma Power. When the method of power distribution changed and the K St. Substation was decommissioned, it sat vacant for years with the transformers still in place, but disconnected. After removing all the power equipment, the lot was still left vacant, on purpose, giving Tacoma City Light time to verify that the land was not contaminated and

could be put to other use.

The local residents noted that Tacoma Power (the new name since 1989 for Tacoma City Light) had a vacant lot and wondered what

would become of it. There were many discussions on a method, any method, that would prevent another huge apartment complex from being built in the middle of our Historic District. It was Kelly Halligan who suggested a "Pocket Park". That sounded like an excellent idea, but no one could figure out a way to purchase the property. Thea Foss bond money became the solution and source of funds for the purchase of the park.

At last, on July 26, 2000, Tacoma Power approved the sale of the property for $30,000. According to Curtis Hancock of MetroParks, the City of Tacoma became the owner of the property in April 2001. With the city owning the land, and an agreement that MetroParks would maintain the park, our North Slope Historic District Park was built these last few months.