I recently had the privilege of facilitating a staff retreat for the Federal Way Parks and Recreation Department and the Federal Way Community Center. I am writing because we are so lucky to have these people in our city.

As we discussed the challenges they face every day, it became very clear that this group of stellar people is passionate about their work. They take the needs of our community seriously, and without much recognition. The community center is a hub of connection for lonely seniors, and a safe place for children to continue learning and growing during after school programs. They contribute to the physical and mental health of thousands of people throughout the year. They take every celebration, community meeting, birthday party, athletic class and individual seriously. In addition, the Parks staff tirelessly maintain fields, trails, roads and parking. The scope of their work is enormous. But they are frequently pulled off of their regular duties to clean abandoned homeless shelters, (you can imagine) and if we happen to have weather that makes outdoor spaces dangerous, they have a plan to keep us safe and it works.

Did you know that the Federal Way Community Center is regularly ranked in the top 10 percent in the country by the National Parks and Recreation Association? I didn’t either! But after hearing shared values like “everyone’s the janitor” and “we know their name by the third time in,” I am not surprised.

Federal Way, we have excellent people at work in our community. As Mr. Rogers famously said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

The Federal Way Community Center and Parks and Recreation Department are full of helpers. This is worth celebrating and saying thank you. Often.

Karin Peabody

Federal Way