(Pictured: The former Parkland School building’s gymnasium, with a performing-arts stage on one side and bleacher seating on the other side, is being rented by Concordia Christian Academy for basketball practices and tournaments. That’s one of the uses of the building since its takeover by a community group in an attempt to preserve it as a community hub.)
The Parkland Community Center has a deep and meaningful history. Recently acquired from Pacific Lutheran University by the Parkland Community Association, the 115-year-old historic building that originally was Parkland School is being repurposed to support, serve, and celebrate the Parkland community.
Once used by Mt. Rainier Lutheran High School until 2018, the building was slated for demolition by developers in 2022. As of December 2024, the building now hosts offices for Family Promise, a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive services and support for homeless families with children. Additional services for youth mentoring and support are under consideration. There are also ongoing discussions about offering music instruction for school-age children. In addition, Concordia Christian Academy is renting the gymnasium for basketball practices and several tournaments from November to February 2025.
Wendy Freeman, a member of the Parkland Community Association, said the group is “excited to share our facility with the Kiwanis Club of Parkland–Spanaway and are deeply grateful for their mentoring and support. We are honored that they have selected us as their service project for the year.” A newly formed Italian Heritage group also meets in the building.
In addition to these efforts to serve the community, the Parkland Community Association is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the area. One such initiative is the release of “Landmark: Parkland Grade School 1908–1982,” a beautifully designed book that offers a glimpse into the beloved school’s past. Filled with over 500 vintage photographs, documents, and personal stories, the large-format book chronicles the school’s 74-year history, from its opening in 1908 to its closure in 1982. It highlights the school’s architectural evolution, the teachers who shaped generations of students, and its enduring role in the community, including the origins of Pierce County Library’s Parkland branch.
The book is authored by Linda Carlson, a proud alumna of a two-generation Parkland Grade School family and author of “Company Towns of the Pacific Northwest” (University of Washington Press). Proceeds from the book will directly support the ongoing efforts to save and repurpose the historic school building into a community center.
A soft opening of the center was held Jan. 25 for the public to see the building, meet neighbors, and enjoy live music by a local jazz band, TPCJazz.
Parkland Community Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a vibrant, livable community in the Parkland area. For more information, to order a book, to view historical photos of the school, or to make a donation, visit www.saveparklandschool.org and www.parklandcommunitycenter.org.
Source: Parkland Community Association.