Local

6 Pierce County playgrounds with new equipment or upcoming renovations

Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of stories explores recent upgrades and new playground installations across Pierce County parks.

A $900,000 playground in Puyallup with climbing boulders and a barn theme aims to celebrate the city's agricultural past. Meanwhile, Chief Leschi Park in DuPont is getting a $400,000 playground upgrade. In Tacoma, schoolyards at Whitman and Mann elementary schools got new play equipment that is open to the public after school, increasing public access to green spaces. Gig Harbor's Doris Heritage Park just debuted its ship-themed playground that honors local history. Wright Park in Tacoma remains closed for three months for crucial repairs. Read the stories below.

The new accessible playground at Sprinker Recreation center sits empty on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024 in Spanaway, WA. The new outdoor features at the Sprinker Recreation Center, like the accessible playground, will be open to the public on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. By AMBER RITSON

NO. 1: HAVE A LOOK AT NEW SPRAY PARK, AMENITIES OPENING SATURDAY AT PIERCE COUNTY REGIONAL PARK

The News Tribune got a sneak peak at the $18.7 million project on Friday. | Published August 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

The DuPont City Council is expected to approve about $340,000 to replace the playground equipment in Chief Leschi Park, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in DuPont, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 2: THIS PIERCE COUNTY PARK PLAYGROUND IS GETTING A $400K UPGRADE THIS YEAR. HERE’S WHERE

Its current playground has aged, the city said. | Published March 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

These renderings show plans for a new barn-themed playground that is under construction at Van Lierop Park in Puyallup. It is set to include climbing boulders, musical features, swings and slides.

NO. 3: $900K PUYALLUP PLAYGROUND WITH A BARN THEME AND CLIMBING BOULDERS OPENS SOON

The playground will have an area for kids between the ages of 3 and 5, and another for children ages 5 and older. | Published April 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Constanza Montemayor

Play in Peace program at Wright Park on Friday May 20 2011 followed by a Peace March to McCarver Elem. School in Tacoma, Wa. By Russ Carmack

NO. 4: PLAYGROUND AT POPULAR TACOMA PARK TO REMAIN CLOSED THIS SUMMER FOR REPAIRS

Parks Tacoma officials will keep playground closed for three more months to implement repairs after discovering rotting support posts on the play structure there earlier this year. | Published May 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isha Trivedi

Students play in the renovated schoolyard at Whitman Elementary School on Monday, May 19, 2025. By David Ryder Whitman

NO. 5: NEW PARKS SPACE AVAILABLE TO TACOMA RESIDENTS THANKS TO SCHOOLYARD CONVERSIONS

The revamped spaces will be accessible to students during the school day and open to the public as a park after school hours and on weekends. | Published May 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isha Trivedi

This photo shows Doris Heritage Park’s playground before its grand opening. This sea-like playground has a slide, jungle gym and tunnels.

NO. 6: NEW PIERCE COUNTY PARK HAS PICKLEBALL COURTS AND A SHIP-THEMED PLAYGROUND

The $6.6 million park is named for a legend in the running community. | Published June 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sephora Charles

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.