New sprayground in the works in Tacoma. Here’s where it will be built
Improvements at Eastside Tacoma’s Portland Avenue Park are set to include a sprayground, playground, restroom and more.
Parks Tacoma has been working on improvements to the park since it adopted a master plan for the project in May 2023. The $3 million project will be funded by grants from the Washington State Department of Commerce and the Neighborhood Parks and Zoo Improvements and Safety Upgrades Bond, approved by voters in 2014, according to Parks Tacoma spokesperson Stacia Glenn.
The improvements will include an accessible playground with features “to support children and families with mobility barriers and increased sensory needs,” according to a news release. Parks Tacoma presented three design options for the playground and sprayground at recent community meetings and is accepting feedback on the designs until Oct. 6. The sprayground could include a splash plaza, an overhead spray and a quiet water play area.
Construction will start late next year and be completed in early 2027, according to a release from Parks Tacoma.
“This thoughtful redesign of Portland Avenue Park takes into account the importance of play for children of all abilities, the park’s indigenous history and the health benefits of having nature in your neighborhood,” Park Board president Andrea Smith said in a release. “We’re grateful the community stepped up to share their wants and needs for this park.”
The project will focus improvements on the center of the park, but future construction could include an event lawn, skatepark, expanded parking and more, the release states.
