• Parking: Yes – designated
• Restroom: Yes
• Water Fountain: No
• Surface: Wood fiber
• Swings: Yes – (0) high back swings
• Ground Play: Ground half of elevated play
• Adaptive Play: Transfer system only
• Sensory Play: Manipulatives, Imagination
• Play Tables: None
• Shade: Some, surrounding playground
• Accommodations: Many picnic tables and benches in the play plaza Benches and tables surrounding play structures
• Sprayground: Yes – water spray features with zero depth access

February 22, 2021

In recognition of the lack of public spaces named for people of color and in celebration of the inspiring achievements of one of this city’s residents and former government official, the Park Board renamed Franklin Park in honor of Senator Rosa Franklin on February 22, 2021.

Senator Franklin was a major supporter of the park district and was the first African American woman elected to the Washington State Senate. She was a tireless advocate for healthcare and social justice in Tacoma and is worthy of this level of recognition.

METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT OF TACOMA
RESOLUTION NO. R19-21
RENAMING OF FRANKLIN PARK TO SENATOR ROSA FRANKLIN PARK

WHEREAS, “the Social Pillar of Sustainability from the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma’s Strategic Master Plan calls for Parks Tacoma to “inspire our community and achieve equity in our parks, programs, service delivery, decision-making, and community engagement”; and

WHEREAS, the Park Board of Commissioners desire to expand the District’s commitment to social equity and carry forward the work outlined in the Anti-Racism Resolution (Resolution No. R32-20); and

WHEREAS, the Board of Park Commissioners has a policy governing the naming and renaming of parks, recreation areas, facilities and features enumerates specific guidelines for appropriate park names; and

WHEREAS, one of the criteria is that “consideration may be given to an outstanding individual who has given a substantial and lasting contribution to Parks Tacoma, the City of Tacoma, or the State of Washington; and

WHEREAS, persons of color have provided significant contributions to the City of Tacoma that have not been adequately recognized to date; and

WHEREAS, Senator Rosa Franklin, a longtime Tacoma resident, was the first African American woman in the Washington State Senate and advocated for healthcare, affordable housing, environmental equity, and social justice in Tacoma and across the state; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED that in support of black history month, the Board of Park Commissioners of the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma approves the official renaming of Franklin Park to Senator Rosa Franklin Park.

The foregoing resolution was adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma at a regular meeting held on February 22, 2021.

Read the memorandum and resolution

Franklin Park covers an area of more than 20 acres extending from Lawrence Street to Puget Sound and from South 12^th to South 16^th. Most of the land was a gift to the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma from the West End Playground Association in 1937 for a “perpetual public park and playground.” The new park was named Franklin Park due to its proximity to Franklin Elementary School.

The idea for a park in this section of town goes back to 1909 when former Mayor and Park Board Commissioner W. W. Seymour donated two lots to the Franklin School which were to be used to “teach the children something of flora culture.” Seymour suggested at the time that the lots could be used a part of Franklin Park when it should be developed.

In 1911 the Board of Park Commissioners in their annual report suggested the purchase of 12 double blocks at Franklin Lake for a park but nothing was done at this time. Numerous civic organizations, individuals and corporations worked on the project of raising money to purchase the Franklin Park property which was finally accomplished in 1937. Additional pieces of property were either purchased by or donated to the Park District over the years.

Shortly after the 1937 land donation a committee was formed to determine the needs for the development of the new park. The long range development plan included:

• Tennis Bowl – a battery of 6 tennis courts located along 12^th Street
• Battery of Horse Shoe Courts – near Puget Sound Ave.
• Shuffle Board Courts
• Archery Range
• Twilight Theater – a natural setting for an outdoor theater
• Field House – near the location of the lake
• Bocci Ball Area – Italian bowling on clay courts
• Picnic Grounds – including outdoor fireplaces
• Casting Platform – for the younger generation of fishermen
• Jumbo sandbox and wading pool
• Rustic shaded places for quite games for older people
• Vista House – at the top of the hill near South 12^th Street including an auditorium, club rooms and creative crafts
• Nature study trails and rock gardens for the beauty as well as the study of native trees and shrubs

The committee pointed out that it was important to notice the absence of commercial equipment in the proposed plan. The community has always endorsed free play and wide open spaces properly supervised.

Franklin Park officially opened in the summer of 1941. By 1948 night-time fastball for semi-professional teams in Tacoma was in progress at Franklin Park. Complaints promptly poured in about the lights, the noise and the traffic. Meetings of protest were held and two years later the lights were removed from the park. The wading pool opened during the summer of 1949 and was a popular feature of the summer playground program.

A photo of Franklin Park’s Picnic Shelter in 1953.

Improvements continued at Franklin Park in the 1950s. On August 6, 1953, the tennis courts, hard surfaced play area, and an outdoor kitchen were dedicated with much pomp and circumstance.

In 1969 the Park District began draining Franklin Lake and filling it in with dirt. Apparently because of the complaint of neighbor who was concerned about the safety of children playing near the lake. The project spread over a couple of years and caused others in the neighborhood to complain about the loss of this park feature.

In 1980 the Park District turned down an offer from Gold Creek Limited Partnership to trade Franklin Park for Gold Creek – 40 acres on the west side of town near North 30^th and Vassault Street. The Commissioners decided that “Franklin Park’s high use and strategic location in the urban area” was too important to lose.

In 1993/94 the Tacoma School District worked on plans for the construction of a new Franklin Elementary School. The new design called for negotiations between the School District and the Park District to redefine the property boundaries. The Park District expressed concern that any new design honor the 1937 deed and that Franklin Park remain a “perpetual public park and playground…maintained as such for the use and benefit of all citizens.”

In June 1994 the School District purchased an additional three acres of recreational land  to add to the Park District’s UPARR 1010 Boundary to make up for the park land lost to the new school. The School District, however, maintained ownership of the three acres.

Official transfers of property took place in 1995.