Here is the status of Metro Parks Tacoma facilities Tuesday as cold, snow persist

Park facilities in Tacoma remained closed Tuesday after heavy snowfall blanketed the region over the weekend and ongoing low temperatures continue.

Metro Parks Tacoma said that the following facilities would be closed Tuesday:

• People’s Community Center
• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (both daytime and Zoolights hours)
• Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
• Point Defiance Marina
• Tacoma Nature Center
• Fort Nisqually
• Meadow Park Golf Course
• W.W. Seymour Conservatory (closed for ongoing renovations)

Facilities open normal hours Tuesday:

• STAR and Eastside Community Centers
• Metro Parks Tacoma headquarters, pending parking lot clearance

Facilities opening late:

• The Center at Norpoint will open at noon to allow staff to fully clear snow from the parking lot.
• Parks crews will work on opening restrooms, clearing parking lots, internal roads and walkways. Until that is complete, parks will have limited facilities and vehicular access.

Parks will have limited restroom and parking facilities. Five Mile Drive in Point Defiance might open late to vehicular traffic, according to a press release from Metro Parks.

Alerts are posted on the Metro Parks website at metroparkstacoma.org/weather-alert.

If going outside in the snow and ice, Metro Parks gave the following safety precautions:

• Be cautious around buildings. Heavy snow and ice that may have accumulated on roofs and the edges of picnic shelters and restroom buildings may slide off as the weather becomes warmer.
• Tree branches also may have been stressed under the snow and ice and could break off, falling on anyone underneath.
• Stay away from steep slopes as these are more prone to slides in the wet conditions and the freezing and thawing experienced by the area.
• Stay away from downed power lines, which can be fatal.

This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 9:53 AM.