Students, community march for peace | Community Spirit

Elected officials, community members and groups of schoolchildren from all over Tacoma marched across Hilltop Friday to dedicate two parks in honor of Play in Peace Day.

The march is the culmination of a project begun by McCarver Elementary School students to honor former classmate Zina Linnik, who was kidnapped and murdered in 2007.

A group of students have raised nearly $3.5 million toward the project, which installed a playground and sprayground at Wright Park and renovated McCarver Park.

The celebrations began at noon Friday with remarks and performances at Wright Park, before the sprayground was turned on for play. The group then marched nearly two miles through Hilltop to McCarver Elementary School, where walkers recieved commemorative water bottles and had the chance to enjoy the renovated playground there.

Check out our photos from the celebrations here.