Tacoma Parks Foundation

Tom Day - Board Treasurer

BECU

Fun Fact: I love to take people fishing. Usually this involves a day on the boat and I volunteer my time with Salmon for Soldiers, helping veterans experience a day of fishing. 

What is your favorite MPT Park, and why? Melanie’s Park is my favorite Tacoma Park. The view from my office window was of the space and then the transformation that occurred. I believe that is will help further transform the Tacoma waterfront. 

Kelsey Horne

Elevate Health

Community Engagement Manager

Fun Fact: I am an avid gardener and have been working on a dahlia breeding project in my spare time.

What is your favorite MPT Park, and why? My favorite Tacoma Park would have to be Snake Lake, or more officially, the Tacoma Nature Center. My family and I love to visit this park regularly because of the accessible trails, the backwoods feel and the exciting playground. We love watching the seasons change at this park and mark when we see wildlife come and go. 

Christian Isaac

Alaska Airlines

Talent Acquisition Outreach Partner



Fun Fact: This past summer, I became a certified pickleball coach/instructor!

What is your favorite MPT Park, and why? As one of the first graduates from the Tacoma Science and Math Institute (SAMI), I spent 4 years learning and exploring all that the park has to offer. I love that it is an accessible space for people to get outside and experience a variety of things like the zoo, the beach, and miles of trails. There is truly something for everyone!

Jessica Knickerbocker - Board Vice President

City of Tacoma

Deputy Superintendent



Fun Fact: I love to downhill ski & have been skiing since I was 2 years old.

What is your favorite MPT Park, and why? How to pick just one! I love to mountain bike at Swan Creek, but my all-time favorite is Point Defiance. The walking trails are my favorite connection to nature, and I could spend all day at Owen Beach gazing out over Puget Sound!

Tim Kotnour

Thomas V. Giddens, Jr. Foundation

Director

Fun Fact: I'm a big fan of baseball. One of my nerdy bucket list items is to visit each of the MLB stadiums. I've currently been to eight.

What is your favorite MPT Park, and why? I really appreciate the string of parks along the Ruston Waterfront. They each offer a view of the water, Tacoma, the port, the Mountain, etc. -- and it’s just stunning. 

Alicia Lawver - Board President

Tacoma Public Schools

Director, Strategic Operations Team

Fun fact: My first official job was as a lifeguard in high school. I was also swim team captain, and I basically lived at the pool year-round. That said: open water swimming terrifies me, but it’s on my list to try.

What is your favorite MPT Park, and why? Point Defiance will always have a special place in my heart. When the kids were small and got cranky we would go to Owen Beach and just throw rocks in the water until everything was better. It’s also been home to many family reunions, Saturday 5k runs, bike rides or walks with best friends, and so much more.   

Lisa Lennick - Board Secretary

Little Green Light

Customer & Product Support Specialist

Fun Fact: My fun fact is I learned how to sail last spring and have a tiny bright red sailboat called the SpiderBoy. 

What is your favorite MPT Park, and why? My favorite park is Wapato Park. I love to wander around the upper dog park with my dog, Cosmo. It feels like being transported into the woods while still being in a fully fenced park. My son also mastered his balance bike riding around the lake so it has a lot of fantastic memories. It’s a great place to connect with nature and exemplifies urban wilds. 

Sionna Stallings-Ala’ilima

Tacoma Fire Department

Interim Fire Chief

Fun fact: I grew up on the island of Maui.

What is your favorite MPT Park, and why?  I enjoy the variety of options Tacoma Parks offers: running on the waterfront (more likely walking these days), playing golf at Meadow Park, and taking my 9-year-old daughter to Point Defiance or one of the many spray and playgrounds, to name just a few.