Splash Time! Stay Cool at Super South Sound Spray Parks

On a warm spring or summer day, there's one thing that's sure to please nearly everyone: playing in the water. And that's what free spray parks are all about. For spray park splashing in the South Sound, here's our guide. Try them all and let us know if we missed your favorite!

Metro Parks Tacoma's 10 spray parks are already open weekends and may be open on extra-hot weekdays before May 30, when they'll be open daily for the summer season. Lots more details below!

Closer to Seattle or heading on a day trip? Don't miss our guide to our guide to spray parks around Seattle, the Eastside and North Sound.

Puyallup

Kiwanis Kids Spray Park: One of the South Sound's newer spray parks, and Puyallup's first, replacing the wading pool that used to be in Pioneer Park. 

Hours: Open daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day 

Find it: 324 S Meridian, Puyallup.

Tacoma

Point Ruston: Tacoma's newly revitalized Ruston Way waterfront is packed with attractions for families. Play at the ferry-boat themed playground and sprayground at Point Ruston, and then bike down the wide, two-mile pedestrian path, enjoying the stunning views of Mount Rainier and Commencement Bay along the way. Finish off with a cone at Ice Cream Social in Point Ruston or lunch at one of the restaurants that are springing up. The sprayground is nature-inspired and super popular. (Find more to do on Ruston Way here.)

Hours: Open seasonally, noon–10 p.m.

Find it: 5005 Ruston Way, Tacoma.

Norpoint Park: With landscaped rain gardens, eco-turf and a playground as well as sprayground, there are many reasons to visit Norpoint.

Hours: Open weekends through May 30 and daily thereafter, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. 

Find it: 4818 Nassau Ave. N.E., Tacoma 

Wright Park: In northeast Tacoma, this beautiful park boasts an updated playground and an almost one-mile trail. Explore the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory while you're there.

Hours: Open weekends through May 30 and daily thereafter, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Find it: 501 South I St., Tacoma

Jefferson Park: Spanning over 15 acres, this park has a recently renovated spray park and playground, plus athletic fields.

Hours: Open weekends through May 30 and daily thereafter, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Find it: 801 N. Mason Ave., Tacoma

Verlo Playfield: Have a picnic after the kids work up an appetite splashing in the sprayground. Note, some still know this playfield by its former name, McKinley playfield.

Hours: Open weekends through May 30 and daily thereafter, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Find it: 4321 McKinley Ave., Tacoma

South Park: The trees at this forested park provide plenty of shade when you need a break from splashing or strolling the gardens.

Hours: Open weekends through May 30 and daily thereafter, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Find it: 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma

Wapato Hills Park: The Skip & Laura Vaughn playground and sprayground at  is adjacent to a preserved open nature space.

Hours: Open weekends through May 30 and daily thereafter, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Find it: 6231 S. Wapato St., Tacoma

Titlow Park: This 75-acre park on Tacoma’s westside boasts a spraypark, lagoon, a recently updated playground, and basketball courts and playfields. Tip: Come on a low-tide day and get schooled on starfish schooled by the Tiptoe Through the Tidepools program, held at Titlow Beach about once a month in the summer.

Hours: Open weekends through May 30 and daily thereafter, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Find it: 8425 6th Ave., Tacoma.  

Franklin Park: This park has a newer sprayground, walking trails and expanded community garden.

Hours: Open weekends through May 30 and daily thereafter, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Find it: 1201 S. Puget Sound Ave., Tacoma

Kandle Park: Kandle Park, which also boasts a huge outdoor wave pool, has a free mini-sprayground, spray toys, and a separate spraypool.

Hours: Open weekends through May 30 and daily thereafter, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Find it: 2323 N. Shirley St., Tacoma

SERA Campus sprayground: In south Tacoma, this spray park next to the STAR Center is the newest and largest spray park in Tacoma. After kids are done splashing, they can play in the STAR Center’s unique Treetops playground, a staffed indoor/outdoor playscape with a huge range of play equipment

Hours: Open weekends through May 30 and daily thereafter, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Find it: 3873 S. 66th St., Tacoma

Olympia

East Bay Public Plaza: This unique reclaimed water stream in front of Hands On Children's Museum has water to spare, stepping stones to climb on and much more. Check the website for occasional closures before heading out to avoid disappointment. 

Hours: Open seasonally, daily 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Find it: 325 Marine Drive N.E., Olympia

Heritage Park fountain: This is a favorite Olympia for wading and splashing. The fountain is scheduled to open for summer in June,

Hours: Check for hours online. (Typically open daily except Wednesday with separate morning, afternoon and evening hours; with breaks for cleaning and maintenance.)

Find it: 330 5th Ave. S.W., Olympia

Auburn

Les Gove Park Rotary Play Sprayground: The colorful water-spray features here make it one of the most popular spray parks in the area. Tip: Les Gove also includes the terrific, fully accesible Discovery Playground.

Hours: Though this sprayground typically opens Memorial Day weekend, its 2018 opening is delayed until June 2 due to construction. Open through Labor Day.

Find it: 910 Ninth St. S.E., Auburn.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium: If you visit in the summer, bring a change of clothes and water shoes so the kids can splash in the Kids’ Zone Lilypad Fountain.

Hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. (later in late summer)

Find it: 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma

 

Editor's note: Elisa Murray contributed to this article, which was originally published in 2013 and updated in May 2018.