Tacoma City Council and Metro Parks Tacoma’s Board of Park Commissioners are scheduled to meet Tuesday at City Hall to discuss the Destination Point Defiance planning initiative.

Destination Point Defiance is a long-term initiative by Metro Parks Tacoma to enhance the experience and honor the character of Point Defiance Park. Planning for this initiative started in 2005 and included more than 100 community meetings. The outcome is a comprehensive plan for Point Defiance Park that focuses on improving access, enhancing activities and stewarding resources.

Additionally, City of Tacoma staff will provide a presentation on the North Downtown Subarea Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. In May 2012, the City of Tacoma was awarded a $50,000 grant from the State Community Economic Revitalization Board to complete a Subarea Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for North Downtown, which includes the northern portion of downtown Tacoma, Thea Foss Waterway, St. Helens neighborhood, and the Stadium District. According to City of Tacoma staff, the study aims to develop an innovative area-wide long-range plan for the north end of downtown Tacoma, fast-track revitalization through up-front environmental review, plan and design capital facilities, and plan for infrastructure and neighborhood amenities to support increased density. It also aims to attract new private sector investment and job growth to the area.

Similar studies are under way in Tacoma’s South Downtown and MLK neighborhoods.

Councilmembers will discuss these issues during a study session, which will be held on Tues., Oct. 1 at 12 p.m. in Room 16 of Tacoma Municipal Building North, 733 Market St. Audio from the meeting will be broadcast live on TV Tacoma and online at tvtacoma.com. On-demand audio archives are available on the Web within 24 hours of the meeting online at tvtacoma.com.