tacoma parks foundation welcomes new
leadership in 2024!

“Our recruitment efforts drew an incredible pool of candidates in which Beth’s professional experience stood out as the ideal fit for this role,” said 2024 Tacoma Parks Foundation Board President, Alicia Lawver. “As we build upon the work of past leadership, this begins a new era for the Foundation. I am excited to see how Beth’s deep community roots and passion for engaging groups in collaborative, meaningful missions will grow our efforts to cultivate a community invested in providing parks and recreation access for all.”

Prior to serving with ALF, Beth’s early career included several years of corporate and private business experience. Coupled with her passion, and more than a decade of leading an organization focused on developing leaders to build community wellbeing through collaboration and collective impact, her professional experience provides an ideal blend of qualities for the Foundation’s executive leadership role.

“The parks system has rapidly evolved in recent years and is fueled by the energized, previously unimagined, expansion of partnerships, purpose, and impact,” Beth shared about her decision to join the Foundation. “The Tacoma Parks Foundation board and staff are eager to increase the reach of their work, and forge new paths, to make parks, programs, and recreation equitable and accessible to thousands of vulnerable children and families in Tacoma. I am inspired and excited to be part of this work.”

She will begin the transition from her current position to the Foundation in early 2024, joining the team full-time beginning March 1.

“The Tacoma Parks Foundation has been a vital funding partner to help address gaps in access to parks and recreation services for the past three decades,” Metro Parks Tacoma Executive Director Shon Sylvia shared. “Needs are greater than ever, especially for the kids and teens in our community. Beth brings a deep understanding of those needs to this position and a passion for addressing them.”



A strong parks and recreation system is essential for a thriving community. The Tacoma Parks Foundation (TPF) serves as Metro Parks Tacoma’s official 501(c)3 charitable partner. Previously known as Greater Metro Parks Foundation, TPF was founded in 1991 to support Metro Parks Tacoma programs, services, and capital initiatives by cultivating a community invested in providing quality parks and recreation access for all.

Our values:
• Equity + Access – We work to counteract historic inequities, overcome barriers, and create a sense of belonging for all.
• Collaboration – We seek to amplify and champion support for parks programs, people, places and projects.
• Youth Development – We further the future of Tacoma by prioritizing Whole Child experiences for youth.
• Thriving Communities – We all benefit by taking care of each other, ourselves, and our communities in a healthy and sustainable way.

about tacoma parks foundation

“Beth has been the face and voice of ALF, remaining connected and reminding nearly 275 of our 630 Senior Fellow leaders that the struggle and challenges of deep introspection, and real community building are all worth it,” ALF Board President Tory Green reflected. “We’re fortunate that her talents, passion, and leadership will remain in our community. She will undoubtedly have the same powerful impact at Tacoma Parks Foundation.”Paragraph

Since stepping in the role in 2012, Beth has inspired hundreds of organizational leaders from throughout Pierce County to build collaborative leadership capacity, and strengthen individual skills, to ignite a collective passion for building an equitable, just, and inclusive community.

Tacoma Parks Foundation is excited to welcome Beth Boggs as our new Executive Director beginning March 1, 2024. Beth joins us following over a decade of community-building as Executive Director of the American Leadership Forum of Tacoma/Pierce County (ALF).