North Slope Historic Park occupies less than a quarter-acre, but there’s room for a new chapter at this neighborhood gathering spot. Parks Tacoma is inviting residents to a reopening celebration and planting party on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to noon. The park sits at 1015 N. Eighth Street, at the corner of North Eighth and North K streets.
The $160,000 playground replacement brings some distinctive additions to the small space. Plans include round, covered swings that children can crawl inside, along with a compact climbing structure featuring two slides. The project also replaces the playground surfacing with ADA-compliant engineered wood fiber and is funded through the voter-approved 2014 park bond.
More than 325 people contributed input on the playground, asking Parks Tacoma to make the most of the limited space and emphasize nature-based play. The design process included a community vote on preferred equipment, with the third proposed option winning the survey. It’s a neighborhood project in more than location: residents helped decide what the next generation of play here should look like.
Long before it held playground equipment, the property served Tacoma City Light as an electrical substation, operating from 1951 to 1983. After the equipment was removed, neighbors saw the vacant lot’s potential as a pocket park. Their efforts helped turn it into the public space that opened in June 2002, dedicated to former Tacoma historic preservation officer Valerie Sivinski.
The October 24 gathering continues that tradition of neighbors helping care for the park. Volunteers will plant low-maintenance landscaping in an area previously occupied by arborvitae. All ages and abilities are welcome, no gardening experience is needed, and Parks Tacoma will provide tools and training. The planting party will go ahead rain or shine.
Bring a water bottle, a snack and gardening gloves if you have them; a limited supply of gloves will be available. Volunteers should register ahead of time to receive additional check-in details, and anyone under 18 attending without a parent or guardian needs a signed youth waiver. You can find the event details and volunteer registration on Parks Tacoma’s website here—then spend a fall morning helping this little park grow into its next chapter.
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