FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 7, 2016

MEDIA CONTACTS

Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152

Stacy Ellifritt, Media and Communications, stacy.ellifritt@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2005

Residents Invited to Celebrate the Thea Foss Waterway

--Critical Mass Paddle & Row Event Leads to Special Presentation at Tacoma Maritime Fest--

The City of Tacoma is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of a historically significant cleanup effort on the Thea Foss Waterway. The cleanup and continuing work has been the topic of events being held throughout the year and is culminating with a Critical Mass Paddle& Row event starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday July 17, at Waterway Park (2104 East D St.). This paddle parade will lead down the waterway and end at the Tacoma Maritime Fest (705 Dock St.) for a special City led presentation taking place on the main stage from noon-12:30 p.m.

This main stage presentation will honor the past, present and future of the Thea Foss and includes remarks from former Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma, Deputy Mayor Ryan Mello and Executive Director of the Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission Dean Burke.

“Our citizens have proven time and time again that protecting our natural resources is a high priority,” said Deputy Mayor Ryan Mello. “We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone of ten years since the Foss Waterway cleanup, and today Thea Foss has become a hot spot for residents to live, work, and play.”

Commencement Bay, including the Thea Foss Waterway, was deemed one of the most polluted sites in the nation in 1983. The City, in collaboration with dedicated community partners, cleaned up contamination caused by more than a century of environmentally insensitive practices, and restored marine habitats around the Thea Foss and other areas of Commencement Bay. Thanks to this cleanup effort, today residents can live, work, paddle and play on this key community resource.

Residents are encouraged to attend this celebration and rediscover this gem of the waterfront corridor. For additional information, visit cityoftacoma.org/FossWaterway or contact the Center for Urban Waters at (253) 591-5588.

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