Marking a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to community-informed work, the City Council adopted the South Tacoma Neighborhood Plan. The neighborhood plan, crafted to reflect the diverse priorities of community members in South Tacoma, focuses on economic opportunity, transportation safety, community health, environmental sustainability, cultural identity, and affordability.
“I’m proud to celebrate the adoption of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Plan — a plan shaped by the voices, values, and vision of this community,” said Council Member Joe Bushnell. “This is more than just a document; it’s both a plan of action and a roadmap for a more connected, vibrant, and resilient South Tacoma. This plan reflects what neighbors have long known: South Tacoma is full of potential. I want to thank everyone who contributed to this effort. Your time, engagement and passion made this possible. Now, the real work begins to advance this plan with the community.”
“Being a part of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Planning process has been inspirational,” said Council Member Jamika Scott. “Thriving neighborhoods are vital to the health, well-being, and safety of our residents. It has been so meaningful to see the community come together to dream about their future and work collaboratively to bring this plan to life. Seeing so many community members volunteer their time to create the South Tacoma Neighborhood Plan is a testament to how much people love and value this community. I’m excited to move toward implementation of this plan and bring to life the community’s vision for the future.”
The City of Tacoma’s neighborhood planning process in South Tacoma was shaped throughout more than 1,300 community interactions, with broad participation from youth, small business owners, and long-term residents. Engagement methods included multilingual outreach, surveys, dynamic pop-up events, interactive mapping tools, focused group discussions, steering group meetings, and $50,000 in community booster project funding guided by nearly 400 resident votes.
To supplement the South Tacoma Neighborhood Planning Booster funding, the City Council approved a resolution for $15,000 in one-time Council Contingency funds, sponsored by Council Member Bushnell, Council Member Scott, and Deputy Mayor Kiara Daniels, to expand the reach of a tree planting initiative, a critical need identified by the South Tacoma community. The tree planting initiative, which will be implemented through the City’s Urban Forestry Program, is one of several tangible outcomes poised to emerge from the South Tacoma Neighborhood Plan. The second Booster project, community events, will move forward in partnership with Parks Tacoma.
Crucial corridor safety improvements on South Tacoma Way will also move forward, facilitated by the City’s Public Works Department.
“South Tacoma is a diverse community with a growing population and rapidly expanding business district areas,” said Mayor Victoria Woodards. “This neighborhood planning project has been instrumental in the City’s planning for the future, guided by the residents of South Tacoma, to ensure we are intentional about how our city develops.”
The adoption of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Plan marks the sunset of the City of Tacoma’s Neighborhood Planning Program, a pioneering four-year effort that advanced community priorities and values in two other distinct Tacoma neighborhoods: McKinley Hill and Proctor. All three adopted neighborhood plans will remain integral components of the City’s One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan implementation.
“The McKinley Hill Neighborhood Plan is an excellent example of what’s possible when we foster effective community and City collaboration,” said Council Member Sandesh Sadalge. “We’ve seen incredible progress—including transforming the McKinley Overlook into a vibrant public gathering space. Through partnerships with local organizations, we’ve launched impactful tree planting efforts and commissioned local artists for original art installations to beautify our community. With each action we are building a more connected and creative neighborhood.”
“What I’ve always loved about Tacoma is that every neighborhood has its own identity. The Proctor Neighborhood Plan created a shared vision for the future and offered new opportunities for community members to play, learn, and celebrate the ‘Proctorness of Proctor’ together,” said Council Member John Hines. “As someone who helped launch the Neighborhood Planning Program, I’m proud of the relationships and trust it fostered. It helped us better understand what makes each place unique and allowed us to better protect and build on those strengths. While the program is ending, the lessons and momentum we’ve gained will continue to shape how we support neighborhoods across our city.”
In recognition of its innovative approach to inclusive engagement and neighborhood-based planning, the Neighborhood Planning Program received multiple grants and statewide awards, including one from the Washington State Governor’s Office and two from the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association.
As the Neighborhood Planning Program concludes at the end of June, the City will integrate successful methodologies into ongoing Citywide initiatives, ensuring a continued focus on community priorities and values within its existing budget framework.
In the coming weeks, City staff will work closely with community partners to facilitate a smooth transition and the sustained implementation of these vital community-informed efforts.
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Photo of “STW Mural” by Ricky Loves Painting taken by Ryan Givens