Out and About in July - jhitchen
July 16, 2026
Good morning neighbors,
I hope you all had a wonderful and safe 4th of July. It seemed like there were a lot more fireworks this year, at least in my community, BUT, it also seemed like they were heavily concentrated on the 4th, which happens to be when they are legal in communities that allow fireworks at all.
The Council’s Public Safety Committee will receive a report from the County's Fire Marshals, who were out in force this year. Initial feedback indicates this was one of the safest 4ths in our county in quite a while, and I especially want to thank all our first responders, the Fire Marshal’s team, the Sheriff’s office, and the community that chose to follow the law.
Now that the 4th of July is past us, it doesn’t mean summer is over. There is still a lot going on, and I want to highlight a few things that didn’t have anything to do with America’s birthday, including a local anniversary for Sprinker Rec, Blue Zones and National Night Out.
Sprinker Recreation Center Turns 50!
Half a century has passed since Pierce County established the Sprinker Recreation Center. Last Saturday, hundreds of people stopped by to explore, play, celebrate, and try their hand at sports like futsal, skateboarding, and ice skating.
In July of 1976, Pierce County opened Sprinker Recreation Center, offering the community a new opportunity to ice skate in July or play tennis in December. With indoor facilities that allowed the community to both explore and actively learn or compete in some recreational activities that were not widely available in the region.
Parkland and the surrounding community have changed quite a bit over the past 50 years, but the need for great parks and recreation spaces has not. While Sprinker remains an amazing indoor ice rink, the entire park has expanded its menu and now serves over 120,000 visitors annually.
If you didn’t get a chance to come and celebrate, take some time to stop by and enjoy. I still vividly remember when we opened to the new playground a family driving up as I was walking back to my car. The back seat was filled with kids staring at the new playground and green fields, and the woman in the front seat asked me, “Is this free?”
I was so excited to say “Yes” and went on to share with the family about some of the other amenities in the park. Congratulations to the staff that helps maintain the park and surrounding property, and to the community. Parks are one of the many ways that we put our collective property taxes to work and truly make our community a wonderful place to live, work, and play.
Blue Zones
If you live in Parkland or Spanaway and haven’t engaged in the Blue Zones work that has been happening locally, you are running out of time. This project has invested in these communities with one goal: to improve the quality of life for those who call Parkland and Spanaway home.
Both communities differ from surrounding communities in how long they live, their access to recreation, and even how they feel about their neighborhood. If you haven’t driven on State Route 7 (Pacific Avenue) in a while, please drive by and look at the beautiful murals that have been added along the retaining walls in Parkland near 115th Street.
And they are not finished. Blue Zones will be working with one of the muralists to install another project in Spanaway. The team is working hard to help community members in Parkland and Spanaway feel a sense of purpose, get outside to enjoy our local businesses and spaces, and just feel like they are part of something.
You can learn more here: Home - Blue Zones Project Parkland Spanaway. If you want to join the Food Crawl, a coordinated effort to highlight local spots serving Blue Zones food, it is a great way to sample some healthy treats and meet your neighbors. I have made it to two of the spots on the crawl so far, but there are four more in Parkland and then three in Spanaway.
National Night Out is August 4th
Every year, across the county, we host neighborhood events to get communities outside and enjoying each other's company. On the first Tuesday of August (which is also election day), many different neighborhood groups, community organizations, and partners gather to eat, play, learn, and laugh together.
While I do not have a comprehensive list, there are events happening in many parts of District 6. Safe Streets is one of our key organizers. They have provided a map and an online tool to see what is happening, and nothing keeps you from visiting an event in a nearby community, especially if there isn’t one hosted in your neighborhood.
Lastly, if you are planning a neighborhood event near your home, there is nothing stopping you from setting up your own block party. So often these days, we do not know our neighbors. We spend more time watching people through apps than actually talking to them face to face. Get out on August 4th and enjoy (after you drop off your ballot)!
National Night Out | Join the Movement — Promote Safety — Safe Streets
Highlighting a couple of events that have been confirmed in District 6:
Parkland: Trinity Lutheran Church at12215 Park Avenue South from 6-9 p.m. & Sprinker Recreation Center 5-8 p.m.
Lakewood: Harry Todd Park, Active Park, and American Lake Park times vary
Steilacoom: Various locations but all happen 5:30-8:00 p.m. and you can register your event or learn more here.https://www.kiwanisclubofsteilacoom.org/national-night-out/
Community Connections
District 6 Library Events: Pierce County Library events and classes at the Anderson Island, DuPont, Lakewood, Parkland/Spanaway, Steilacoom, Tillicum, and Virtual libraries.
Washington’s Quiet Path to the Moon: Saturday, July 18, at the Lakewood History Museum. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and seating for this movie will be first-come, first-served until the theater is full. It is free and features Tom Rhodes presenting the history and role Washington played in the Saturn V rocket and our trip to the moon.
Pierce County Trails Day: Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. to noon. You can explore guided tours through many different ones, but in District 6, we are focusing on Bresemann Forest. Park at Sprinker Recreation Center in Parkland to join the fun.
Steilacoom Salmon Bake: Sunday, July 26, from 12-4 p.m. at Sunnyside Beach. You can learn more or purchase tickets here: Salmon Bake
Dog Days of Spanaway: Sunday, August 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sprinker Recreation Center, celebrate our four-legged friends and the people who love them. There will be demos, vendors, opportunities for your furry family members to get their picture taken, and be part of a Pet Parade
Save-the-Date: Wednesday, August 12, from 5-7:30 pm, Parkland Resource Fair and Community Connection at Keithly Middle School. Stay tuned for more information.
I truly enjoyed the community pride and spirit over the last couple of weeks. Whether participating in a 4th of July parade, hanging out with the neighbors in booths, celebrating 50 years of amazing impact with our parks, or showing support with the largest Pride Festival in Pierce County in Tacoma, our experiences and differences make us stronger.
We are a community, and at the end of the day, when we can remember to treat people the way we hope to be treated, we are a healthier and happier Pierce County.
Take care, and don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
Jani