KFnet in T-Town
Mar. 14, 2008 at 9:35pm
Rainy "Take Back" Lunch at Frost Park
Featuring special guest Tim Farrell!
Despite the rain and cold we had a great group of folks show up for today's lunchtime "take back" of Frost Park. Thanks to first-timers Bond, Erik Emery, sweet pea, ensie, Nick, Ken, Todd, and the Herban Cafe's very own Pink Cookie Lady and family for braving the ever-present Northwest elements to spend time together. Chickadee even invited Pierce County Councilmember Timothy Farrell to pay us a visit and he lent some surprisingly relevant insight to the possibility of the fencing off of the park and a bit about the history surrounding it. Here's what he had to say:
Download MP3 (2MB)
Thanks for stopping by Tim and everyone! The turnout today gives me hope that we'll have no problem keeping up these meet-ups for some time to come.
comments [28] | posted under brown bag, frost park, local life, tacoma
Comments
 by Frinklin on 3/15/2008 @ 2:08am | We spent an hour standing out in a cold, pouring rain. We either really love this city or we're just insane. I'm betting on a combination of both. |
 by jcbetty on 3/15/2008 @ 8:46am | exactly what Frinklin said! (nice vamp shot!) |
 by jenyum on 3/15/2008 @ 9:26am | If Frost Park is fenced off and we can't have even one fenced tot lot in this city.....
I don't know what to say. Why exactly do we want that? Let's just use the park and work to prevent crime through a healthy and vibrant downtown. If any elected official would like to talk to me about some constructive uses for fence funds, I'd love to chat. I can show you a children's playground with 6 holes in the fence in a neighborhood with 25 sex offenders within a half mile radius, I would think that would qualify for some fencing through crime-reduction funds if that's where they're coming from. Sorry to rain on your happy rainy day post! I'll be there next week when I'm down to one child for the afternoon. |
 by NineInchNachos on 3/15/2008 @ 9:34am | Nice sound byte! ads a new dimension. Nice work. |
by jcbetty on 3/15/2008 @ 9:36am | jen-- Mr Ferrell seemed really open to having dialogue about issues. I think, given your research and persuasive style, he'd be a great guy to chat with. (the sex-offender factoid is kinda scary.) |
 by KevinFreitas on 3/15/2008 @ 10:10am | Definitely. You're not raining at all Jen. He was thrilled to see folks using the park and would be open to avoiding fencing it all together if possible. We showed him that positive use of that space can happen and I'm with you that the more of that downtown the better for all spaces, merchants, etc downtown. I can't imagine concerned police that want to honor the memory and service of Frost would have much to object to with helping make local parks safer.
I highly recommend setting a meeting with Farrell. With the research and ground work you've done looking into such issues I'm sure he'll be all ears. NiN: Thanks! That player definitely comes in handy and the quality of the new audio recorder I just bought is way too good not to share. I owe thanks to you though for pioneering use of that player on your Feed blog. It's just right. Cheers! |
 by Erik on 3/15/2008 @ 11:20am | Kevin looked pretty official with his microphone there. Looks like it worked pretty well.
We spent an hour standing out in a cold, pouring rain. We either really love this city or we're just insane. I'm betting on a combination of both. I wondered myself walking there too. However, it was sure where the he action was. There is traffic all around but it turns out not to be too loud. |
by jenyum on 3/15/2008 @ 12:23pm | I emailed the Metro Parks commissioners. Hopefully that will get the ball rolling. The only change I've seen has been a big star on the park's Park Bond page indicating that construction is complete.
If I don't hear anything responsive from the Park Commissioners I'll try bugging Tim Farrell. |
by Erik on 3/15/2008 @ 1:00pm | It is a city park so Metro Parks does not have jurisdiction.
As for the fencing, the Park was so over run by fights and drug dealing last summer that it still might be needed. The block of 9th Street between Broadway and Pacific has almost been impassible because of the problems there and a site of frequent arrests of some very tough characters, many with criminal records. It might be possible to permanently take back Frost Park. However, it could only be done with near constant activity occurring there. |
 by izenmania on 3/15/2008 @ 1:26pm | I'm going to talk to someone at the city tomorrow to find out who is actually in charge of the funds that Farrell has allocated. |
 by intacoma on 3/15/2008 @ 2:28pm | jcbetty I like your boots, my gf has been dropping hints for the last year that she wants some, where can ones like that be found? |
by KevinFreitas on 3/15/2008 @ 2:49pm | As for the fencing, the Park was so over run by fights and drug dealing last summer that it still might be needed.
Totally disagree. We can do better than that. First, shut off power to the outlets there in the park. Second, use it. Let's add in some benches that make it a place to stop but use some of the modern designs that help prevent lying around. Check these out: 
Though we can't be there 24/7 (nor could anyone at any park) the more it gets used the more likely it will be that some of the crime and homeless activity will decrease. I fear fencing will only make maintenance more of a hassle and likely promote folks tossing fast food and other garbage over into the park. |
by jcbetty on 3/15/2008 @ 3:19pm | thanks, in-- not local, I'm afraid--I got 'em from piperlime, an online shoe outlet that's with the gap/old navy/banana republic group (if you look by brand, they're Chooka's--I got 'em early fall.) (Nordstrom also have Chookas, and Tiki Lounge and Envy also carry rubber boots, not sure of the lines they carry, though.)
--kevin-- rad design ideas, very cool. I do recall times in the summer (going from one event to another, I think Urban Art Festival to the Wailers show?) where I was scared to pass, and would re-route my walk to roads I perceived as "safer." --for some reason that corner mart and parking garage combo, added to the close proximity to the jail, added to the low-cost apartments just seems to make the area...icky. --Maybe, they could change the corner mart to a Pottery Barn? (I'm joking about that last bit, actually...) --but yeah, I think the city could put some efforts toward making the space usable, like the kids of seating you're talking about??? To make more the space more desirable to groups? |
by Erik on 3/15/2008 @ 3:59pm | thanks, in-- not local, I'm afraid--I got 'em from piperlime, an online shoe outlet that's with the gap/old navy/banana republic group
Fashion seems to be an increasingly mentioned topic on the Frost Park event. I am glad I am covered as my Navy trenchcoat was selected for my by Julie at Urban XChange. As for 9th and Commerce, the proof will be in the pudding. The phone booth has been removed and they have added some security measures to Frost Park i.feedtacoma.com/Erik/multi-pronged-crac... and D Street Market, while still open has cleaned up a bit. We will see. |
 by ensie on 3/15/2008 @ 6:01pm | I am a big fan of shutting down power to those outlets that are there. We can flip the power back on as needed during the holiday season or whatever.
LOVE the bench designs. |
by NineInchNachos on 3/15/2008 @ 7:24pm | how about all the seats they tore out of the Artifex Link stop? We could reStore those into the Frost park eh? |
by jcbetty on 3/15/2008 @ 9:45pm | Artifex stop seats?? ie-- far-end stop? taken out??? wha????????? |
by Erik on 3/15/2008 @ 10:10pm | how about all the seats they tore out of the Artifex Link stop? We could reStore those into the Frost park eh? Artifex stop seats?? ie-- far-end stop? taken out??? wha????????? Yes, they were facilitating a gauntlet type atmosphere and making the LINK stop inaccessible for LINK would be users. (Where are the Hanan photos when I need them?) Check out the New Tacoma Neighborhood meeting/report on the problems in the area: www.newtacoma.org/archives/PacificAve03-... These Tacomics gives an idea of the problems and history as well: www.feedtacoma.com/tacomic/img/2007-06-0... www.feedtacoma.com/tacomic/img/2007-10-1... (Geesh. I am reduced to having to cite cartoons as authoritative sources) |
 by herban on 3/18/2008 @ 1:32pm | It was fun being in the rain, my girls and hubby were soaked, but it was fun to be included! Are we on this Friday? The park (all parks) need picnic tables.
Herban |
by Erik on 3/18/2008 @ 2:11pm | It was fun being in the rain, my girls and hubby were soaked,
You folks showed alot of valor. Everyone's set as far as I know. Hopefully the weather will be better. |
by Erik on 3/18/2008 @ 3:24pm | The countdown for Frost Park occupation 3/20/2008 at noon begins: (currently all quiet yet dry) www.flickr.com/photos/tacoma-urbanist/23... |
by herban on 3/19/2008 @ 1:00pm | I'll be there, cookies in hand sans kids (they actually have a full day) if no one else shows I'll feed the tacoma downtowners and keep on spreading pink cookie love. Isn't the 20th a Thursday? Should I be there Thursday or Friday the 21st? Or was it bumped up a day due to Good Friday?
Gretchen Herban Cafe |
by izenmania on 3/19/2008 @ 1:05pm | 21st! Don't listen to Erik, he's a madman! |
by Erik on 3/19/2008 @ 1:22pm | Yes. Friday March 21st at noon. |
by Erik on 3/19/2008 @ 5:18pm | Kelly and Laura and I are e-mailing each other, and we keep saying the same thing: We want to post something, but we don't have anything to write about. Maybe we're just lazy. Maybe we need Niki to come back from Olympia. So it got me thinking, Has everything already been written about Tacoma? blogs.thenewstribune.com/gritcity/ Someone needs to help the poor grit city folks who are stuck (imprisoned?) in their isolated cubicals at the Trib in an office park adjacent to the golf course. I don't see them coming up with their own "content" looking at blanks walls, streaming AP "wire" articles and other people's blogs. Perhaps someone will let them know of the Friday event downtown at noon. |
by KevinFreitas on 3/19/2008 @ 5:22pm | They're totally welcome Friday! I bet that crew certainly could use to get out from the I-5/Hwy. 16/Sprague triangle more often. Come, dawn your rainy day best, and join us Friday at noon. |
by jenyum on 3/19/2008 @ 6:32pm | I commented over there.
|
by Erik on 3/19/2008 @ 10:19pm | Weather on Friday: Friday Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Highs around 50. South wind 5 to 15 mph. |
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