The City of Tacoma has taken the opportunity to honor one of our city’s most respected and influential members. Through the unanimous passage of Resolution No. 41509 by the Tacoma City Council on August 13, a city-owned parcel of land at 1505 S. 5th St. is now called Dr. W. Joye Hardiman Park.
This triangular piece of land in the Hilltop area is bordered on three sides by Division Avenue, South Cushman Avenue and South 5.th Street. Its large trees are perhaps its best asset, and the park is easily accessible to the many residents and families who live around it in the historic Wedge District.
The property previously had no name, and research shows this is the first time the city itself has named a place after an African American woman. Metro Parks has already done so by naming Senator Rosa Franklin Park, and Tacoma Public Schools has renamed the former Wilson High School to Dr. Dolores Silas High School.
“My theory is that this is the first time the city has named a place after a black woman. The other names were given by other entities and not by the city of Tacoma. I spoke to our historic preservation officer and he said that’s true…” said Anna Le, an administrative assistant in the city manager’s office who gave a presentation to the city council on the naming of Hardiman Park.
The naming was the result of the efforts of individual community members, local organizations and city departments, which Le collectively referred to as “Team Hardiman.”
“The city’s policy does not specifically require citizens to reach out or collect signatures when it comes to giving honorary names to parcels. The policy simply requires that a certain level of citizen initiative be undertaken,” said Le. “The applicants collected signatures in the area around the parcel in support of the application, although they were not required to do so.”
Nearly 20 pages of signatures were collected from area residents and letters of support were sent from Evergreen State College-Tacoma Campus, the Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective, the Tacoma NAACP, Bridges to Educational Resources, the American Leadership Forum and Faith in Engineering.
“Dr. W. Joye Hardiman has touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people from all walks of life and continues to do so. She is more than deserving of this special recognition and on behalf of the Evergreen State College-Tacoma Campus, I express my full support for this endeavor,” wrote Evergreen State College-Tacoma Dean Dr. Marcia Tate Arunga.
Lyle Quasim, chairman of the Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective, wrote, “Dr. Hardiman’s work is evident throughout our city. Her contributions to arts and culture, social and legal justice, economic development and education demonstrate the ‘joy’ that Tacoma derives from her involvement.”
A LIFETIME GIFT
A flyer circulated to encourage public support for the park’s naming aptly describes Hardiman’s extensive knowledge and experience as “…“Multi-hyphenate educator, scholar, inspirational speaker, world traveler, and cultural activist. Her tireless efforts in higher education, the arts, civil rights, civic engagement, and development have profoundly impacted the lives of countless people and generations to come in the City of Tacoma and its Hilltop community. Her unwavering commitment to the City of Tacoma makes her a beacon of inspiration and progress.”
 |
|
The triangular lot is easily accessible to the many residents and families who live nearby in the historic Wedge District. |
One of her most lasting influences was the Establishment and development of the Tacoma campus of Evergreen State College. Hardiman’s association with The Evergreen State College began when she was hired as a professor at the Olympia campus in 1975. She helped develop the Tacoma program, which eventually officially became the college’s Tacoma campus in 1982, where she served as a founding faculty member.
Hardiman became Evergreen Tacoma’s second director in 1990, a position she held for 17 years until her retirement in 2007.
“That’s 40 percent of its existence,” Le stressed. As Director Emeritus of Evergreen State College-Tacoma “She never stopped advocating for the campus to remain at Hilltop,” Le said.
Le also pointed out that despite unequal access to educational opportunities, 1,428 students graduated from Evergreen Tacoma during Hardiman’s tenure as principal and the school maintained an average graduation rate of over 89 percent.
According to city policy, all costs associated with community-initiated place name changes are to be borne by the applicants. The Evergreen State College has agreed to cover the cost of a sign displaying the park’s new name. It was proposed that the sign provide visitors with detailed information about Hardiman’s accomplishments and contributions, specifically highlighting her influence on education, community improvement and humanitarian efforts, to serve as an inspiration now and for future generations, and to be consistent with preserving another piece of history in the Wedge District.
Among the materials distributed at the August 13 City Council meeting was information that many people in the neighboring community had expressed a desire to install a meaningful public artwork.
The documents state: “Well-known Tacoma artist Chris Jordan would be the recommended artist. This artwork will not only serve as a symbol to commemorate Hardiman’s legacy, but will also reflect Tacoma’s commitment to preserving its history and building upon that history in meaningful ways in the future.”
Woodards expressed her respect and admiration for Hardiman, saying that when Hardiman was born, “they broke all conventions and that is absolutely the case because there is no one like them.”
Woodards spoke about Hardiman’s commitment to education, regardless of age or economic situation.
“What I love about Joye is that a lot of people who advocate for education are doing it at the high school level and really pushing young people to graduate. While that was part of Joye’s work, she was really an advocate for reminding older adults that they can graduate,” Woodards said. “Tacoma is so lucky to have Joye as part of our community. It was an honor to guide her through the process. She really deserves it.
“It also warms my heart that here in the city of Tacoma we see another opportunity to honor an African American woman for her service to this city.”
