Filled with countless parks and recreational areas, we are lucky to live in a place as beautiful as Pierce County. But it can be easy to take it for granted sometimes. Even easier is to get stuck in a routine of going to the same place every time you leave the house. To inspire your adventurous nature, we have compiled a list of five fantastic Pierce County parks that provide fun for the whole family. Make the most of the summer — or any season — while getting outdoors and exploring a new place.
Crescent Creek Park
This Gig Harbor park is ripe with history but offers plenty of fun for the modern family as well. Crescent Creek Park was the first park in the city, with the restrooms being built by WPA workers in the 1930s. A plaque on the water fountain commemorates that original construction.
Don’t mistake this green space as a simple park, however, for it has activities aplenty. A tennis court, basketball court, baseball field (with bleachers), and beach volleyball court are just a few of the attractions, and there’s plenty of parking to accommodate everyone who wants to play. There are also barbecues, picnic tables, and a large covered area, ideal for outdoor birthday parties and other social gatherings.
While there is plenty for adults to do here, probably the most fun will be had by kids who discover the Maritime Playzone — a large playground with a couple boat-themed big toys and an extensive nautical climbing structure, as well as more classic swings. The Playzone was completed in 2014 and is a great way for kids to have fun while experiencing a little taste of the maritime culture of Gig Harbor.
Crescent Creek Park
3303 Vernhardson St
Gig Harbor, WA 98332
www.cityofgigharbor.net/crescent-creek-park
Dacca Park
Right off I-5 in Fife, Dacca Park Sports Complex is a popular spot for little league baseball and adult softball leagues, but this park literally has something for everyone. For other athletes, there is a basketball court, a beach volleyball court, and a track, as well as plenty of beautiful walking trails for those seeking a lower impact activity. In the fall, the four baseball fields are converted into soccer fields, and the concession stands run through all sports seasons, so you never have to go without a snack.
The playground offers a fun big toy, complete with a mini climbing wall and plenty of safe, classic features for the kids to play on while parents watch from the adjacent benches. The sports complex can also be rented out for private sporting events and would be a great place to host a family softball game or get your friends together for some beach volleyball.
Dacca Park Sports Complex
54th Ave E
Fife, WA 98424
cityoffife.org/city-departments/parks-and-recreation/city-parks/dacca-park
Chambers Creek Regional Park
Chambers Bay received national attention in 2015 when it hosted the US Open golf tournament. While its world class course is not to be missed, this park offers so much more than that. With more than 900 acres, this park offers miles of stunning trails for walkers, runners, and bikers alike, and two miles of saltwater shoreline. The creek is a great place to skimboard at low tide, while the beach provides great opportunities for kids and their parents to explore the natural wonders of the ocean any time of day.
On-site dining at Chambers Bay is also top notch, but be sure to pack a picnic on at least one of your visits this to this park; with views of the Olympics and Puget Sound, Chambers Creek Regional Park provides the perfect backdrop to any picnic.
The award-winning Environmental Services Building itself is worth checking out too, and for those who remember what the area looked like before the renovations of the early 2000s, the development is all the more impressive. This truly is a gem of Pierce County, and well worth the trip for anyone who has not been to University Place recently.
Chambers Creek Regional Park
6320 Grandview Dr. W
University Place, WA 98467
piercecountywa.org/index.aspx?NID=3454
Ashford County Park
The newest Pierce County park opened in June of 2010. What began as just 36 acres has grown to 80, all recently renovated in the early summer of last year.
For anyone living in the northern parts of Tacoma, Ashford County Park is a bit of a trek — past Eatonville, right outside Mount Rainier National Park — but it is well worth the trip, or could be the perfect stop on the way to or from the mountain. Kids getting tired of being in the car? The playground has a large big toy with balancing elements, swings. The perfect way to stretch your legs and get ready for some hiking in the park.
There is plenty of parking and restrooms are located next to the playground — reason enough to stop here on the long drive up to the mountain.
Ashford County Park
29801 WA-706
Ashford, WA 98304
piercecountywa.org/index.aspx?nid=1313
Frontier Park
For anyone living south of Tacoma but not wanting to travel far, Frontier Park is a must. Located on Meridian Avenue just north of Graham, this park boasts more than 70 acres of forest and fields, including trails for walking or riding and an impressive playground with bridges, a crow’s nest, and a tunnel. The restrooms have showers and the onsite building was renovated in 2007 to become the Frontier Lodge, a rustic museum highlighting local history.
Many events are held in Frontier Park including the Pierce County Fair, Highland Games, equestrian shows, scouting events, car shows, and “quarter midget” track racing competitions.
Frontier Park
21718 Meridian Ave E
Graham, WA 98338
piercecountywa.org/index.aspx?nid=1321