Be Sure to Take Advantage of These 4 Unique Parks in South Tacoma

When some people think of Tacoma’s most amazing parks and beautiful landscapes, there are a few big ones that come to mind—Point Defiance Park, for example, is often on the top of the list, and at 702 acres it’s no wonder! But did you know that South Tacoma has some truly incredible parks to take advantage of and enjoy as well?

South Tacoma is brimming with excellent amenities—tons of shopping, restaurants, services, schools, quick freeway access, and much more are all within reach, and this includes some awesome parks!

Here are a few of our favorite parks in South Tacoma and why we love each one:

Wapato Park: Enjoy the Dog Park, Wapato Lake, Garden, Trails, & More!

Brimming with picturesque sights and a long list of fun things to do and explore, Wapato Park is one of Tacoma’s most dynamic outdoor attractions. Like many parks, Wapato Park is home to a playground, picnic shelters, and beautiful greenery, but we especially love the outdoor space for its dog-friendly zone and walking trails.

Wapato is really nice. There’s a great lake walk and a dog park to boot! In additional to the big dog park featuring three fully fenced areas, there are some lovely walking paths. There are gorgeous wooded trails that wrap around the lake!

Enjoy the 0.9-mile trail that circles the lake, and even though you can’t swim in the lake, it’s fun to take in the beautiful scenery and watch for wildlife. Wapato Lake is really pretty, and since there's a lake it's extra fun for kids!

Located at 6500 S. Sheridan Ave. Tacoma, WA 98408
Open 30 minutes before sunrise; closes 30 minutes after sunset

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Charlotte’s Blueberry Park: First Come, First Serve Blueberry Pickin’

This unique South Tacoma park started out as a farm in 1929, and today, Charlotte’s Blueberry Park covers 20 acres (10 of which are protected wetlands) and shows off 3,000+ blueberry bushes! REALTOR® John Douville highly recommend this Tacoma treasure. Plus, there’s no fee to pick the blueberries—during picking season (July through September) blueberries are available to the public on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Located at 7402 E. D St. Tacoma, WA 98404
Open 30 minutes before sunrise; closes 30 minutes after sunset

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Metro Parks Star Center: “It’s where community happens!”

This dynamic community center is brimming with activities and amenities open to its members (learn more about signing up for a membership right here) every day of the week. Metro Parks Star Center has the best playground in South Tacoma. There’s a playground with a splash pad in the summer, and two indoor climbing gyms for the rainy days.

The Metro Park Star Center is home to some incredible play areas for kids, including this state-of-the-art Treetops Playground. The Star Center also has several fitness classes (like yoga, cycling, tai chi, swimming, etc.), personal training, youth and teen programs, birthday party offerings, senior programs, and much more!

Located at 3873 S 66th St, Tacoma, WA 98409
Hours: Open Monday - Friday 5am - 9pm, Saturday 7am - 8pm, Sunday 8am - 6pm

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Stewart Heights Park & Pool: 25 Acres of Amazing

Stewart Heights Park & Pool is another South Tacoma favorite—its many acres of activities and opportunities for recreation make it a top choice for those who love to stay active!

Stewart Heights has a skate park, a pool with a lazy river and small spray area, basketball courts and tennis courts, a baseball field, a picnic area, and a pirate ship play park for the littles.

You can even rent baseball fields or reserve picnic shelters for gatherings, making this spot an easy birthday party location with tons of built-in activities at the ready.

Located at 402 E 56th St, Tacoma, WA 98404
Open 30 minutes before sunrise; closes 30 minutes after sunset

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