Park improvements would honor Zina Linnik

image courtesy of metro park

PARK PLAN. This architect’s rendering depicts McCarver Park after planned renovations are complete.

Zina Linnik loved to play in McCarver Park, near the school she attended and her family’s house.

Now members of her family, neighborhood residents and employees of Metro Parks are working to celebrate her memory with improvements to the park.

Zina, 12, was abducted from an alleyway behind her Hilltop home July 4, 2007. Police arrested Terapon Dang Adhahn, who led authorities to her body in a rural area of the county in order to avoid the death penalty. He is charged with aggravated first-degree murder, first-degree rape and first-degree kidnapping.

Zina’s murder shocked people around the city, and those who lived on Hilltop were especially hit hard by the death of the pretty girl who moved to Tacoma with her family from Ukraine.

The park, located at South 23rd and South ‘J’ streets, was already scheduled for renovations. A bond measure passed by voters in 2005 allocated $175,000 for McCarver Park.

Jeannie Peterson, director of community initiatives for Hilltop Action Coalition (HAC), noted several meetings were held for area residents in the aftermath of Zina’s abduction. It was from those that the idea of commemorating her memory sprouted.

HAC picked up the cause, and shared them with Doug Fraser of Metro Parks, project manager for the improvements.

Last September representatives of Metro Parks, HAC, Central Neighborhood Council and members of the Linnik family began meeting on a regular basis.

Some of the planned improvements will recognize the Linnik family’s Ukrainian heritage. A major component will be egg sculptures, meant to resemble the famous Faberge eggs. The intricate pattern of the eggs might be duplicated on columns in the park, Fraser noted.

Peterson said two of the eggs will be six to eight feet tall. She printed out around 60 potential designs, and sent them to the family for them to select from. She also contacted Tacoma Community House, a non-profit organization that serves immigrants. Peterson said the organization is interested in incorporating the artwork of several local Ukrainian women in the park.

The family loaned Fraser a children’s alphabet book Zina enjoyed. One suggestion being considered is spelling out her name in the script used in the book.

She enjoyed playing tetherball, so more courts may be added.

“We are finding the elements that were special to her, and also have meaning to the family and their culture,” Fraser said.

He has not met Zina’s parents. Her sisters have been attending the monthly meetings, and bring ideas back to their home.

“They have been wonderful in sharing with us,” Fraser remarked.

The overall project likely will exceed the $175,000 Metro Parks has allocated for it. Tacoma School District owns the property, and Fraser said the district plans to cover the cost of some new playground equipment. Central Neighborhood Council received $15,000 in funding from the city that will go toward street and sidewalk improvements around the park.

“She represents everything that is really good about our community and our young people,” Peterson said of Zina.

The family has provided information on colors and books the girl liked. One component will resemble a stack of books, and Peterson wants to put titles Zina enjoyed on them.

A poem was read during a moment of blessing where she was abducted. Peterson said that might be carved into a new wall in the park.

Peterson said McCarver Elementary School, adjacent to the park, is among the poorest in the city based on the income of the parents of the students.

“I think it would be so appropriate to give one of the poorest schools one of the best parks,” Peterson remarked.

Metro Parks staff will be on hand to discuss the planned improvements during Family Fun Night at McCarver Elementary School at 6 p.m. Feb. 28. The school is at 2111 S. ‘J’ St. They will also be at the Central Neighborhood Council meeting at 6 p.m. March 6 at Snake Lake Nature Center, and the Hilltop Action Coalition meeting of March 17.

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