It has recently come to my attention that the City of Tacoma intends to replace the existing trash receptacles along the Waterwalk at Point Ruston.  This news came as a surprise to me since we have had the joy of seeing these receptacles help beautify the Waterwalk since we started following the Point Ruston development and just assumed they would remain as a distinctive feature of the Waterwalk.

Apparently, the City has adopted a policy to gradually begin to switch out all of its current top opening trash cans to ones that open on the side.  The thinking behind this change is that it is more ergonomically correct to pull the full bags out the side rather than lift them up through the top. Because our beautiful Waterwalk trash cans open at the top, they are some of the first to be targeted for removal. While I am someone who would normally support a switch, I am puzzled by the fact that regardless of how the bag is taken from the trash cans, the person loading them into the truck will ultimately have to pick-up each garbage bag and throw it into the truck,whether it was lifted up and out from the top or pulled out from the side. For this reason, I believe we should let the City know of our distress over the proposed removal of the current Waterwalk trash cans and their replacement by generic park trash cans.

We certainly do not need to remind you of how much effort the Point Ruston developers and the City of Tacoma have and continue to devote to the beautification and distinctiveness of the north end of Ruston Way and its connectivity to Pt Defiance.  We believe that the citizens of Tacoma and their visitors, as do we, see this part of the Ruston Way parkway as distinctive and different.  The size, paving and landscaping surrounding the Waterwalk all contribute to this impression.  And, we believe, the existing trash receptacles that are wrapped in Northwest/Puget Sound scenes only enhance that impression and sets the Waterwalk off as a special, reclaimed recreational area for the citizens of Tacoma. 

From all we have read about the plans that the City and Metro Parks have for Peninsula Park and the proposed new enhanced pedestrian/bike access between the waterfront and Pt Defiance, it is apparent to us that Kurtis Kingsolver, too, is making this a magnet area for both the City’s citizens and its visitors.  What better way to help all of them, as they pass along the Waterwalk,  come to know and appreciate some of the other highlights around the City and the Puget Sound area than viewing these attractions on the existing trash receptacles as they stroll along the Waterwalk.

As additional housing, the theater, hotel, and other retail outlets open at Point Ruston, we think, as we are sure you must, that Point Ruston will become a favorite ‘destination’ for citizens and visitors alike.  How disappointing it would be then, if we forsake something that helps to, not only set Point Ruston apart, but also lead our walkers, cyclists, strollers and joggers to, perhaps, explore other wonderful sights in our beautiful part of the world.   We believe the Waterwalk trash receptacles do exactly this and we know that all of those who appreciate the Waterwalk would greatly miss these beautiful and functional receptacles should they be removed.

Thank you very much for supporting this petition and our request. Hopefully, our words will help the City of Tacoma to view the existing Waterwalk trash receptacles in a different and more permanent  perspective.  Thank you.

Sincerely, 

Sharon Coleman