Mar 5, 2008
Tacoma Childrens Museum steps aside from Foss Waterway Park site
Jason Hagey; The News Tribune
Group drops out of consideration for use of Foss Waterway Park site
The Children's Museum of Tacoma is backing away from its hope of building a new museum at the future Foss Waterway Park, executive director Tanya Andrews said Tuesday.
Opposition from rowers and other nonmotorized boaters who intend to use the park, as well as preservationists who want the space to remain free of new buildings, were factors in the decision, Andrews said.
"It's no longer the perfect site for the museum," Andrews said, adding that the museum never wanted to become the source of community division. "The Children's Museum wants to bring the community together to play. There's absolutely nothing playful about the way it's going down."
The museum leaders are officially removing the museum from the public process over the Foss Waterway Park location, Andrews said.
It's not clear where the museum might look next. It's been two years since the board shopped for real estate, and the museum wants to take a fresh look at the possibilities, Andrews said. It's outgrown its current Broadway location.
The Foss Waterway Development Authority, which owns the land where the museum hopes to build, was leading a process that included public workshops and hearings over the fate of the park.
The City of Tacoma and Pierce County also were involved in the discussion. The 3-acre property was bought with money used to set aside open space. Backers of the museum's proposal wanted to swap another vacant parcel to comply with restrictions, and the Foss board was seeking a legal opinion from the county prosecutor about the plan.
Opponents of the museum's plan complained that public officials from the Foss board, Metro Parks Tacoma and Pierce County worked behind the scenes putting it together.
Last week, the Tacoma City Council decided it needed to weigh in on the controversy, despite not having an official role in the process. Several council members supported the museum's efforts. The council had planned to take up the discussion again at a study session, and might have weighed in with a resolution supporting or opposing the museum plan.
Several council members said they thought something could be worked out to accommodate everyone's interest in the Foss property.
Museum officials want to hear from the public about what to do next, Andrews said. Information about its next steps will be posted on its Web site, www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org. Information about how to sign up to receive notices also is available on the Web site.
Jason Hagey: 253-597-8542
jason.hagey@thenewstribune.com
The News Tribune1950 South State Street, Tacoma, Washington 98405 253-597-8742
© Copyright 2008 Tacoma News, Inc. A subsidiary of The McClatchy Company
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