Clean-up effort underway at school property near Tacoma’s Blueberry Park
Neighbors of Charlotte’s Blueberry Park in Tacoma are thankful for recent cleanup efforts on adjacent property that is owned by Tacoma Public Schools.
Now they say they want those efforts to continue, and they want to see long-term plans for active management of the roughly 30-acre site.
Courtney Gutz, who brought problems with homeless encampments and crime to the attention of the school district, spoke to the school board Thursday.
“We want to thank you for the cleanup,” she said. “The neighbors and I really appreciate that.”
She suggested the district work with the City of Tacoma and Metro Parks, which manages the park at 7402 E. D St., to come up with a plan for public use of the wooded district property. She also asked school officials to work with the local nonprofit Safe Streets.
Those efforts could soon be underway.
Stephen Murakami, chief operating officer for the school district, showed the board before-and-after photos of the cleanup.
He said district maintenance workers and school patrol officers will continue to patrol the property to keep out campers.
Murakami said the cleanup and stepped-up oversight is the first phase of district action.
He urged concerned neighbors to attend a community discussion of the matter that is scheduled for Tuesday.
“We are committed to making sure the property is maintained,” Murakami said.
Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635, @DebbieCafazzo
Community meeting
The City of Tacoma will host a community meeting to discuss how to to create a safer, more attractive neighborhood near Charlotte’s Blueberry Park.
The meeting, sponsored by the city’s Community Based Services team, is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Grace Missionary Baptist Church, 7615 E. A St.
This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 8:22 PM with the headline "Clean-up effort underway at school property near Tacoma’s Blueberry Park."