Updates on parks and trails in Pierce County

This list of curated articles shares updates on parks and trails in Pierce County.

A new Puyallup playground celebrates the city's agricultural history with its barn theme. Grants support the widening of the Sheffield Trail in Fife. Wilkeson plans to revitalize its economy with a new 139-acre park, focusing on trails and potential campsites.

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An image of Van Lierop Playground, a new barn-themed play area for children between 2 and 12 years old. The playground is at Van Lierop Park, between two parking lots at 3401 Eighth Ave SE. The playground includes slides, musical amenities and boulders to climb, and it is scheduled to open to the public on Oct. 30, 2025.

NO. 1: BARN-THEMED PUYALLUP PLAYGROUND HAS MUSIC, CLIMBING ROCKS. HERE’S WHEN IT OPENS

Puyallup is getting a new barn-themed playground this week. | Published October 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund

Amanda Ryken, left, and Dena Paris sit in the Svette Sauna for a 180-degree heat session on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Owen Beach in Tacoma, Wash. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 2: THAT BLACK TRAILER PARKED AT OWEN BEACH? IT’S A SAUNA. WE TOOK A LOOK INSIDE

It was drizzling Saturday morning as a dozen people sat inside a small sauna in the parking lot of Owen Beach, inside Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. | Published November 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

The Carbon River Fairfax Bridge, which connects State Route 165 to Mount Rainier National Park. The bridge is closing permanently due to safety concerns from the steel deteriorating. The rust is visible underneath the bridge in this photo.

NO. 3: WILL STATE AUDITOR INVESTIGATE PIERCE COUNTY BRIDGE CLOSURE? HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

A 103-year-old bridge in Pierce County permanently closed in April. | Published November 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund

The Sheffield Trail is a 0.68 mile long paved trail that runs north to south between Valley Avenue East and 20th Street East, on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, in Fife, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 4: THIS TACOMA-AREA TRAIL IS GETTING A $1M FACELIFT. TAKE A LOOK

The Fife City Council on Wednesday accepted a $999,100 grant to support upgrades to the 0.68-mile Sheffield Trail, which connects Brookville Park to the library. | Published November 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Wilkeson’s Way Forward is a economic development project that would conserve 136 acres of land near the town’s historic coke ovens, on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, in Wilkeson, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 5: NEW 139-ACRE PARK NEAR MOUNT RAINIER WILL HAVE TRAILS AND POSSIBLY CAMPSITES

Wilkeson is now one step closer to reclaiming its economic future. | Published November 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund

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.