June 2006

Destination PLAY!
Local Playgrounds Worth a Special Trip

By Paula Rudberg Lowe

When your children and you tire of your local playgrounds, there are many more to explore in Thurston, Pierce and south Kitsap Counties. Some of the playgrounds are located in the middle of cities, and some are out of the way, but all offer a respite from daily life.

Before heading to the car, remember to pack lunches, snacks, water, sunscreen and some entertainment for the kids during the car ride. Consider packing a couple of beach towels that can double as a picnic spread and for drying wet children after wading. A change of clothes and shoes for each child is a good idea, too.

The quietest part of your day will be when your kids fall asleep during the car ride home.

Pierce County

City of Puyallup: Bradley Lake Park
Bradley Lake Park is set inside the bustling South Hill area of Puyallup, but once you enter, the tall trees buffer the sounds of the city.

Within this 59-acre site is the park’s namesake, 12-acre Bradley Lake, where people can fish from the pier or from non-motorized boats year round with a state fishing license (no license required for age 14 and younger). There is no swimming or wading allowed. There are restrooms.

The children’s playground includes two play areas, one for 2-to-5-year-olds and one for children 6 and older. There are spring toys, and toys to swing and climb on, plus slides.

One of our readers writes, “… Bradley Lake Park … is a beautiful and serene spot hidden on the east side of the busy South Hill shopping area. The park has a lake that is stocked with fish, so we always see people fishing and ducks swimming in the lake. The path around the lake is paved and makes for a perfect place to ride bikes, pedal cars, Rollerblade™ or just walk and take in the beautiful scenery. There is a large covered patio with picnic tables and barbecues. It is a great place to enjoy a picnic, rain or shine. There is also an area with slides and toddler-friendly toys. My little boy is 4 years old and this is (and always has been) his favorite place to go for outside play.”

Location: 531 31st Ave. S.E., Puyallup.
Information: City of Puyallup, Parks and Recreation, 253-841-5457. www.ci.puyallup.wa.us.
Fishing information: www.wfdw.wa.gov or https://fishhunt.drw.wa.gov/wdfw.

Lakewood: Fort Steilacoom Park
Fort Steilacoom Park is a 15,000-square-foot multi-structure playground laid out like a fort. Kids of all ages can climb, hang, walk, explore and jump on this huge play set.

If the kids tire of the play area, put them in a stroller or on their bikes and take a walk on one of several trails through woods and hills surrounding Waughop Lake. The trail connects to the Pierce College campus, and along the way, there are views of Puget Sound and Western State Hospital.

In this 340-acre park, there are four baseball and soccer fields, plus grassy areas to play Frisbee™ or to fly kites. If you wish, bring along your dog, as this is a new off-leash area.

Location: Fort Steilacoom and Elwood Drive, Lakewood (near Tacoma).
Information: City of Lakewood Parks and Recreation, 253-589-2489. www.cityoflakewood.us.

Metro Parks Tacoma: Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Kids’ Zone is a one-year-old educational and active children’s area at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The play area has two sections that help kids ages 3 to 8 to learn through hands-on experience. Magical Movement has climbing and play equipment that encourages learning through physical activity. On a giant otter slide, kids learn how otters swim through the water. In the summertime, there’s a lily pad fountain where water jets skyward; children can get wet or stay dry by jumping from lily pad to lily pad.

In Contact Junction, kids can pet zoo animals, sheep, pigs, bunnies and guinea pigs. Older kids can learn about zoo careers.

This summer, a marionette program to teach children about animals will be offered four times a day in the Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater. In July, an antique carousel will be ready for a spin.

In addition to Kids’ Zone, there is the zoo to visit exotic animals and the aquarium to see unusual fish and sea creatures.

Location: 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma.
Information: 253-591-5337. www.pdza.org.
Fees: Kid Zone is free with zoo admission (adults $10, youth 4-12 $8, tots 3 and younger free). Carousel rides are $2.

Thurston County

City of Olympia Heritage Fountain. On a hot summer day, this is the place to be. The city’s interactive fountain gives everyone an accessible, wet cool-off. Locals fondly refer to it as “Olympia’s community swimming pool” because the city doesn’t have one. With the flat surface, it’s designed for people to splash in and enjoy year round.

Set in between two streets, the fountain is not exactly a quiet place because of the traffic noise, but the view is beautiful. On the south side, the state capitol perches on a hilltop overlooking Capitol Lake, and on the other side of the fountain and across the other street looking north is Puget Sound, the Percival Landing walkway and one of Olympia’s marinas. On a clear day, looking toward the marina and through the sailboat masts, you can see the Olympic Mountains.

Location: 330 Fifth Ave. S.W., Olympia.
Hours: June-September, Thursday-Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., 3:30 - 9:30 p.m. Closed Wednesdays.
Information: City of Olympia, 360-753-8380. www.ci.olympia.wa.us/par.

City of Olympia Percival Landing
Across the street from the fountain is Percival Landing Park where you can walk along the boardwalk to see the boats. Picnic tables and benches line the landing. There is also a play structure in the area, a large green lawn and a public bathroom and shower.

On the Capitol side of the fountain, you can take a stroll around Capitol Lake on a paved path, or head into town.

Percival Landing: 217 Thurston Ave. N.W., Olympia.
Information: City of Olympia, 360-753-8380. www.ci.olympia.wa.us/par.

Priest Point Park
One of the newest playgrounds in town is the play structure shaped like a big ship at Priest Point Park. “Kids can pretend they are pirates at Budd Inlet,” says Olympia Parks Director David Hanna.

Throughout the heavily wooded park are picnic shelters and several trails that lead to 1,000 feet of waterfront along Puget Sound. Some of the trails are easy and short enough for preschool-age children. Consider carrying younger children in a backpack or shortening the trail hike (which means you won’t make it to the beach).

For a beachfront saltwater adventure at the park, bring buckets and shovels so that kids can take home shells, sticks and rocks. Live sea creatures need to be left on the beach where they live.

Location: 2600 East Bay Drive N.E., Olympia.
Information: City of Olympia, 360-753-8380. www.ci.olympia.wa.us/par.

Tumwater Historical Park
This park is set along the Deschutes River at the base of Tumwater Falls, below the 100-year-old Olympia Brewhouse. High above the park is Interstate 5 heading to Portland and to the ocean. The large play structure offers hours of fun for children ages 2 to 8. Nearby are restrooms, a picnic shelter and a path to the river. There is no fishing or swimming allowed, and the river runs quickly so parents need to supervise children closely. There’s a huge grassy area where kids and adults can play Frisbee™ or fly kites; it’s large enough for group games.

Location: 777 Simmons Road S.W.
Information: City of Tumwater, Parks and Recreation, 360-754-4160. www.ci.tumwater.wa.us.

Rainier Vista Park, Lacey
Lacey’s newest park, Rainier Vista, is aptly named for the view of Mount Rainier from the park. A variety of features make this 46-acre park popular for children and adults. A large play structure features a rock-climbing wall, bars for hanging and swinging, slides and a toddler play section. Next to the playground is a large, covered picnic shelter where parents and caregivers can sit in the shade to watch their children. There are two picnic shelters, barbecues and picnic tables.

The landscaped park is surrounded by paved walkways with measured walking distances where people can walk, ride bikes, take strollers or jog (no motorized vehicles on paths). A restroom is located in the 300-car parking lot.

There are a three sand volleyball courts, three baseball/softball fields with bleachers for spectators, three soccer fields, four tennis courts and two basketball courts. The skateboard park with concrete base and modular units can be reconfigured by city staff.

Location: 5475 45th Ave. S.E. (corner of 45th and Ruddell), Lacey.
Information: City of Lacey, Parks and Recreation, 360-491-0857. www.ci.lacey.wa.us.

Kitsap County

Bremerton: Playground at the Fairgrounds
For a huge, new playground, head to the 129-acre Kitsap County Fairgrounds. It’s a place where art, music and play equipment come together to entertain children and engage all their senses. There are ceramic tiles decorating the area, murals painted on the back of castles, and PVC pipes where kids can make music. The play structures are designed for toddlers and older kids, with castles to explore, stairs to climb, swings to try, and more.

The playground area includes sand volleyball courts, four tennis courts, four softball fields, three soccer fields and a baseball field, along with horseshoe pits, picnic tables and barbecues.

Kids can ride bikes, and parents can walk, jog and/or push strollers on the paved walking path. There are public restrooms there, too.

The Fairgrounds has a pavilion with events that run year round. The Kitsap County Fair is open Aug. 23-27.

Location: 1200 N.W. Fairground Road, Bremerton.
Information: Kitsap County Parks and Recreation, 360-337-5350. www.kitsapgov.com/parks.

After a long day at the park, enjoy the quiet car ride home.

Paula Rudberg Lowe is an Olympia-based freelance writer. She is a proofreader for Northwest Parent Media.

For descriptions of outstanding playgrounds in King and Snohomish Counties, turn to the Web site of our sister publication, Seattle’s Child. Go to www.seattleschild.com and click on “Destination PLAY!” in the June issue.

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