Free lunches, youth activities available at Tacoma parks, schools this summer
As the 2024-2025 school year comes to a close, several local agencies are offering free events, meals and activities for youth in Tacoma.
Parks Tacoma will offer its free Summer Meals program at 12 different parks in town. From Monday through Friday, June 23 through Aug. 29 with the exception of July 4, Parks Tacoma will offer free activities from 10 am to 12:30 p.m. and free lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The activities, which might not occur at each location, will include arts and crafts, games and more.
The following parks will offer lunch and activities for youth ages 18 and under:
- Edna Travis Park, 2301 South J St.
- Franklin Park, 1201 S. Puget Sound Ave.
- Lincoln Park, 801 S. 37th St.
- Manitou Park, 4408 American Lake Blvd.
- Northeast Tacoma Playground, 5520 29th St. NE
- Roosevelt Park, 3601 E. Roosevelt Ave.
- SERA Campus Playground/Sprayground, 6002 S. Adams St.
- Stewart Heights Park, 5715 Reginald Gutierrez Lane
- Titlow Park, 8425 6th Ave.
- Verlo Playfield, 4321 McKinley Ave.
- Wapato Park, 6500 S. Sheridan Ave.
- Wright Park, 501 South I St.
Tacoma’s Summer Late Nights will return for the third year, offering a space for middle and high school students to spend their evenings this summer. Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., June 23 through Aug. 29, parents can drop off their kids at one of 10 different locations in Tacoma for a free dinner, art, music and other activities.
Parks Tacoma recommends that parents and guardians pre-register their child for the days they’d like to attend the Summer Late Night closest to them, but pre-registration is not required. The programming is open to all students — not just students from Tacoma Public Schools — so long as they have identification indicating their date of birth.
The following locations will host Summer Late Nights this year:
- Al Davies Boys & Girls Club – 1620 S. 17th St.
- Baker Middle School – 8001 S. J St.
- Eastside Community Center – 1721 E. 56th St.
- Giaudrone Middle School – 4902 S. Alaska St.
- Mason Middle School – 3901 N. 28th St.
- Meeker Middle School – 4402 Nassau Ave. NE
- Morgan Family YMCA – 1002 S. Pearl St.
- Stewart Middle School – 5010 Pacific Ave.
- Henry T. Schatz Boys & Girls Club – 3875 S. 66th St.
- Truman Middle School – 5801 N. 35th St.
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
