After years of controversy, a resolution has finally been reached for a historic piece of farmland in Puyallup. There was talk that developers might buy the former Van Lierop Bulb Farm and build warehouses or homes, but it looks like a park will eventually take over most of the site.
The land's future divided the city council and drew frustrated residents to several meetings but on New Year's Eve, the city signed papers to buy 18 acres for a park. The news was a big relief to neighbors who worried they'd see the land get paved over.
"We get some beautiful sunsets here" Ron Colson explained as he looked out his back window. Colson and his wife say they will miss seeing the beautiful flowers at the farm but like the idea of a park. "It will give us a place to walk" he explained.
The Van Lierop family retired from farming a few years ago and Colson said he's glad they were finally able to get money for the property. The non-profit group Step by Step is buying 6.25 acres of the land.
Step By Step works with at-risk pregnant women to help them deliver healthy babies and establish safe homes for their children. The nonprofit plans to use the buildings already on the site to give their clients employment and help them develop job skills.
The group set up their headquarters on the site a year and a half ago and then started raising money to buy the land and buildings. The building will be named Germaine Korum Center for Women and Children after the family donated to the project.
"I think it's a win for the city, it's a win for the Van Lierop's and it's definitely a win for Step By Step and what our ambitions are" Executive Director Krista Linden explained.
Standing inside the farm's old retail space the group says they will carry on the farm's mission in a new way. I think it's a beautiful way to preserve their legacy here" Linden said.
Linden said they will now focus on preparing the site to help their clients and say they hope the Van Lierop family will continue to be involved in their operations. "I hope he will always be proud of what we do here" Linden said.
