February 13, 2018

Dean Burke: Tacoma and the Sea

31 minutes

Dean Burke comes on the podcast to talk about how all Tacoma’s can have a closer connection to the sea. Dean is the Executive Director of the Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission. He left the Texas Gulf Coast for Tacoma’s North End 23 years ago.

Marguerite spent some time on the water with Burke for TryTacoma.tv and sings it’s praises as a transformative experience. Burke’s dialogue about the Pacific Northwest landscape is both informative and poetic. They talk about the connectivity to the sea and the increase in the community’s increased desire to strengthen that relationship by renting or purchasing paddleboards, kayaks and more.

Burke can rattle off a plethora of resources for those looking for outlets including the best and easiest places to rent gear and local groups that provide a team environment with more of a club opportunity. In short, there are lots of opportunities to get our body in the water.

What is the Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission and what do they do? Burke lays it all out for listeners and goes on to speak on how the shoreline is an asset for sports development.

Dean finds importance and value in referring to the Puget Sound as the Salish Sea. While Puget Sound is an excellent way to refer to the neighborhood or section of the Salish Sea we reside in.

The two touch on advocating for the sea. Tacoma is on a rebound from severe damage that was done to our shoreline. While there has been some positive shifts with the eco system, it’s still a work in progress. Biggest thing that Burke champions for is getting people to cross that threshold from land to water and what you do next is up to you.

Burke is super stoked about an event in June called The Seventy48. Inspired by the Race to Alaska, the Seventy48 is a man powered race from the Museum of Glass to Port Townsend. 70 miles, 48 hours, no sails, no support. It’s a historical moment for Tacoma, the race is starting at the Foss Waterway, the first EPA’s first superfund site. There will be a huge kick off party too. Burke says, “The human spirit and determination and will, there’s some beautiful stuff comes out of this.”

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By Marguerite Martin

4.8