SWONA represents all areas within the boundaries of Harrison Avenue and Division Street, stretching west to Black Lake Boulevard and Cooper Point Auto Mall Drive. If your home or business falls within these borders, you’re part of the South West Olympia neighborhood and welcome to join our community!

For an official interactive map from the city to check if your home or business is within the area, click her e.

How do I join SWONA?

Membership in SWONA is $10 (or whatever you can afford, more is always appreciated) per person per year. To join, please follow these steps:

1. Fill out our membership form:
   Membership Form

2. Make your payment in one of the following ways:

   • Pay in person at a neighborhood event (please provide your full name and email address at the time of payment).
   • Mail a check to SWONA:
     SWONA
     2103 Harrison Ave NW, Suite #2-848
     Olympia, WA 98502
   • Pay online via PayPal by sending your payment to swolyna@gmail.com (be sure to include your last name in the payment details).

We’re excited to welcome you as a member of our community!

Membership is $10 per person per year, but if you’re able to contribute more, it’s always appreciated. We understand that not everyone can pay the full amount, so feel free to give what you can. For more details and to access the membership form, please see the "How do I join SWONA" FAQQ.

We wholeheartedly welcome everyone in our community, whether you're a renter or a property owner. Every voice matters, and we believe that all residents are equal and essential to our neighborhood. 

The SW Olympia Neighborhood Association evolved with the West Side of Olympia… an early version sprang to life in 1977 when the city proposed locating a destination mall just to the west of the neighborhood. Prior to that, the area was an open wooded area, playground for kids from the nearby neighborhood, haunt of the original Decatur Raiders.

Then an Ernest Hahn who built dozens of malls throughout the West set his sights on that fertile ground – a covered enclave for shopping, easily accessed by automobiles from parts south, west and east.  And plenty of room for parking.

Neighborhood residents immediately realized that the temptation for cars to speed through the hitherto quiet streets would be irresistible.   In the words of Terry Cooper, president of the then Westside Neighborhood Association, “Fourth Avenue traverses the heart of a cohesive family neighborhood that begins at Harrison and extends south to Ninth Avenue.  Even now, before the opening of the new Capitol Mall, Fourth Avenue has begun to suffer severe traffic shock.”

A series of meetings with the city ensued and after deliberating various strategies, the city agreed to install stop signs at strategic spots throughout the grid of neighborhood streets.  Hence, the numerous stop signs – today sometimes observed and sometimes not, but at least communicating something very different to drivers than would be the case if they weren’t there!

Fast forward to 2001 or so, when the neighborhood we know today had been augmented when the city platted a whole new style of neighborhood – Wellington West – with a dogleg connecting the old area (north of Ninth) to the new area.  The city created a 3-way stop and some folks who drove that intersection regularly were irritated. They filed to create a new neighborhood association – the SW Olympia Neighborhood Association.

But you can’t assume that your new organization will limit itself to one issue.  Around 2000, the city came up with another proposal that promised – once again – to flood the neighborhood with outside traffic.

And with that, SWONA was transformed into the activist organization it is today.

The City’s traffic engineers had long had their eye on the end of Decatur Street SW.  Maps that pre-date the construction of the freeway, show a link through what was then a wooded valley to the Tumwater Hills to the south.  The logic of that link was destroyed by the freeway. But Olympia’s traffic engineers decided to resurrect a form of it by opening up the neighborhood to Highway 101 via Decatur Street.  They added a circuitous backdoor route through the Auto Mall, with a new stub linking to the end of Fern St. Sw.  Two connections, they said, would spread out the traffic that might otherwise choke the streets.

-written by Bethany Weidner

SWONA envisions a vibrant, inclusive neighborhood where both renters and homeowners feel equally welcome and engaged. Our goal is to foster a strong sense of community, where neighbors work together to create a thriving, connected environment. We believe that change is a natural part of growth, and rather than resisting it, we want to embrace new opportunities that enhance the quality of life for everyone in South West Olympia.

Our focus is on building relationships, encouraging open dialogue, and ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard. We aim to be a hub of collaboration, where all residents, regardless of how long they’ve lived here, can come together to shape the future of our neighborhood. Whether through community events, shared projects, or simply getting to know one another, SWONA is committed to making South West Olympia a place where all neighbors can feel a sense of belonging and pride.

We’re excited about the future and look forward to working alongside our community to create a welcoming and evolving neighborhood for generations to come.

A neighborhood association (NA) is a group of residents or property owners who advocate for or organize activities within a neighborhood. An association may have elected leaders and voluntary dues.

Some neighborhood associations in the United States are incorporated, may be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, and may enjoy freedom from taxation from their home state.

The term neighborhood association is sometimes incorrectly used instead of homeowners association (HOA). But neighborhood associations are not homeowners associations (HOA). An HOA is a group of property owners with the legal authority to enforce rules and regulations that focus on restrictions and building and safety issues. On the other hand, a neighborhood association is a group of neighbors and business owners who work together for changes and improvements such as neighborhood safety, beautification and social activities.

SWONA (SouthWest Olympia Neighborhood Association) is fully committed to inclusivity. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status. This policy applies to all aspects of our operations, including the selection of volunteers and vendors, hiring and firing of subcontractors, and all neighborhood activities. Our goal is to provide a welcoming environment for all members, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and neighbors.

SWONA’s original founders chose an opossum named "Puck" as the neighborhood mascot, inspired by the character from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow, is a mischievous and playful fairy who adds a bit of fun and whimsy to the story—qualities that the founders felt resonated with the spirit of the neighborhood at the time.