Ridiculous I drove my two sons down here and my husband to go swimming. I did not have a bathing suit with me so I was going to sit and watch them while they swim. I looked on their website. There's nothing that mentions that you cannot watch without a ticket. It's just a basic swimming pool with some waves in it. I was told I would not be allowed in unless I paid the $10 ticket. This could easily be solved by having a wristband that shows who's watching and who's participating. The lady at the desk was incredibly rude and said no you're wrong. It's two adults you're paying for and I told her again that I just wanted to watch. She said you can't go and watch without a ticket that you have to pay for. Why would I want to pay the same fee as my husband just to go in and sit? read more

This place is pretty cool and a great place to spend a day with some young relatives. It has a playground, small spray park, ice cream/concession stand and a community pool. The parking lot shares space with a police substation so it feels really safe and everything seems really clean and nicely upkept. The park appears much larger on the map than I have checked out and appears to include a skate park as well. There are tables available to enjoy a picnic, or to simply sit while you watch children enjoy the playground. I did find the spray area to be a little underwhelming, but the playground equipment seemed newer and unique. The pool is a very good reason to come to this location. They are currently doing limited sessions due to lifeguard shortage, but its only 7$ for 2 hours. Best of all the wave pool is heated and feels amazing on a hot day. There are some water squirting things and one of those large buckets that dump water on everyone's heads. Lifejackets are available for use. On the day I visited there was plenty of room for everyone to occupy a table or lounger. It appears that the grassy hill next to the wave pool is a good location to set up and bring your own chairs, blankets, etc. There's a 1 ft wading pool that I mistook for a hot tub and was a little disappointed by, but likely great for smaller children. I also really liked that they have children complete swim tests and give them a bracelet to tell others what areas of the pool they are allowed to be in. My 7 yr old nephew insisted he could swim, but it was nice to have someone official reinforce that he needed to stay with adults or before a certain point. read more

I love this park and the houses surrounding it, it feels safe and open. The pool wasn't open but that's awesome they have a water park area. There is also a basketball court, kids park, baseball field and I think a co-op. The grass is well maintained and the trees and landscape is nice to look at. My son is getting into a tree climbing phase so ofcourse he had to climb a tree :p read more

Kandle Park - Monkey jay - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

This is a very nice park with a decent playground. There are a few tables to sit at and a walking trail around the park. There's also a skate park and basketball court. read more

Kandle Park - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Kandle Park is a great place to stop with a cup of coffee and let your kid run around the play area. It's got swings, slides, balance rope, other fun toys/obstacles. There's also a large field, a good path to jog around, plentiful parking on the road and in the lot, basketball hoops and a skate park. It's next to a police station and elementary school, and it's in a nice area. read more

Clean and beautiful, family friendly neighborhood. I enjoy the well kept park and pool. The exercise times for pool are great. Nice people working there, always polite. ********* read more

This is probably my favorite park in Tacoma. I used to live about half a mile from this park but have since moved to UP. I had the chance to go visit it with my puppy in tow yesterday. There's something for everyone at this park. Skating Playground Basketball court Splash zone Garden Large grassy area And of course, the water park. I've been to the water park on a hot summer day. There's simply nothing else like it in the area. Especially since they have removed the swimming pool from Titlow. I wish they would add a dog park then I would be spending most of my days off here. The area is very clean and shares a parking lot with the north end tacoma police department. read more

Kandle Park - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

I haven't actually walked around Kandle Park for the three plus years I have lived in Tacoma. I'm not really sure why...I guess I am just partial to Point Defiance. In the summer I kind of want to avoid it due to the congestion of families using the swimming pool and their cars and the rest of the year there is occasional congestion with the school nearby...so perhaps that is why. The reason why I finally went to Kandle Park was due to a rock group( Tacoma ROCKS) I just joined. This group paints rocks and then leaves them in parks, businesses (with the approval of the owner hopefully) and other places for others "in the know" to find. These painted rocks on the back should have a message asking to rehide or keep and to put a picture of your find on Facebook. Kandle Park seemed like a real hot spot for rock hiding so I made this my first stop. I actually did find several painted rocks which was a great start! While walking through this park it has all the wonderful amenities a good park should have. It has a very nice play equipment area, a very spacious swimming pool for summer, walking paths and a community garden. I was very impressed! I was here on a drizzly weekend looking for these rocks and because of that the park was so quiet and peaceful! So unlike other times I have driven by! Lol! read more

Kandle Park - Some of the painted rocks we found in Kandle Park from members of the Tacoma ROCKS movement. Keep or rehide, post a picture to Facebook. - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Man, what a place. Nice neighborhood, nice and well kept pool and playground for the kids, soccer and baseball field also. Great place for a family afternoon!!! Check it out!!! read more

Kandle Park - Nice playground! - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Awesome new park. There's supposed to be a splash park,toddler pool and wave pool coming this summer. They're sure doing a lot of work over there. For now, it looks like the basketball court, skate parks and the playground are all open. Very fun playground. It's all spaced out with lots of room to play. Sure to be a bonus when the water activites open this summer and child chaos insues. read more

See all

This place is pretty fantastic. I had no idea there was anything like this in this area. Nothing even close to this in the Bremerton area. So what is it? Basically two parks, a dryish one for free and a paid water park. Both fantastic little gems. So the free one. A few play structures of above average quality. They have lots of abstract different ideas but in the end its some jungle gyms in very good condition. They have a large grassy area right next to it perfect for sunny days with a canopy. They also have a small water fountain that shoots arcs and whatnot. Very nice. I intend on coming more often. On the paid side it is $10 for adults and $8 for children. A bit cheaper if you only come for the afternoon. They allow outside food and also have a small little food shack. Pretty much just hot dogs and popsicles. Oddly they have sunglasses and swim goggles too. The water park can be broken down into three portions. A literal one foot wading pool for the little little ones. It has little bubble jets to keep them entertained. The second area is a small ones play area. Spray guns mounted in a semi circle. A water table and a bunch of buckets that randomly fall upon the kids. The last area is the adult big kids area. It is a wave pool, three different functions to it. Just a gradual slope going from dry to about 5 feet. The kids can go as deep as they want. Then it is a wave pool after all. It will generate waves that are pretty nice. Real fun. Then they have the last function called the big kahuna. Kids under 10 have to leave unless they are within arms reach of an adult. This is like the previous wave function but on cocaine. The eaves are significantly larger and much more chaotic. So the key points are that this isn't just a wave pool. It is a warmed wave pool! All the water I believe is heated to 82 degrees. It truly is nice. They have float vests for all the kids. A ton of picnic tables strewn about and a ton of those sun lounging chairs. There is one private area that you can pay to reserve. Give this place a try in the summer! Your family will remember it and want to come back every hot day! read more

This is the second year in row being here for my nephew's birthday. It's a great place to have a summer time bday party. The main pool is spacious, clean, and has a wave machine. Plenty of staff on hand to keep everyone safe and to ensure all have a good time. Nice facilities for the public and for private rentals. Good general admission pricing and they offer season passes if you happen to live nearby. Whether a coordinated event or just family fun, this a good place for a summertime outing. I hope this helps in your decision to come here. read more

Skate park was horrible I don't know why the city decides to spend a ton of money on the childrens park but little to no money on the skate park. Please do not go here it is not worth your while. If I could give this 0 stars I would. read more

Perfect place to cool off, with the kids on this hot summer break...love this place!!! Will definitely come back... read more

Kandle Park - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

What a great mini water park! The wave pool here is the main attraction and these are some pretty strong waves. There's also a hot tub connected to the wave pool if you just want to sit and relax. This hot tub is not hot at all though. Next to the wave pool, there is a kiddy area with water that's gears towards kids under 5. This park provides life jackets for the kids. There's a small fee for everyone so you will want to look on the website for the prices and times. There are patio chairs, tables and lawn chairs but you'll have to be early or lucky to snag these. There is also a huge grass area where you can sit and lay down. You're able to bring in your own food to eat within the park so be sure to pack a lunch, snacks and drinks. There are some picnic tables that are available for rent as well if you want a shaded spot to throw a party. Outside of the mini water park is a basketball court and a playground. It can get very crowded and loud in the wave pool so be sure to pack your patience. There are lockers that you can rent out and bathrooms with showers and changing area. Overall, a great place to go to on a very hot day. It reminds me of a mini beach. read more

Clean, fun park that's in a residential area. So no cars zooming by all the time making it potentially unsafe for kids. We've never been here during the summer months but there is a wave pool and some other water stuff. The playground is great with lots of slides and even a tot sized big toy. Picnic tables are available as well as a skate park off to the back. I also adore that the Tacoma Rock Facebook group hides treasures here. #tacomarocks read more

Kandle Park - Skate ramps. - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

This is an awesome alternative to the large and crowded, "Wild Waves." We found this place out last summer and go a few times each year. This is a Metro Parks location which is quite surprising, they are stepping up their public park game by adding this type of park and the fee is nominal. Come early on the HOT days as this place can get packed, I love that they offer tables and chairs and you can bring a cooler of goodies to last all day. The large wave pool is pretty cool, along with the spray park sprinklers and such. The hot tub in the corner is a nice edition and I can't wait until my newborn can enjoy the toddler area next summer, it was fun watching all the toddlers running around and splashing away. read more

My mom clued us in to this fantastic park last summer. We only spent time on the playground but it is amazing to say the least. New equipment with all sorts of unique and interesting features for the little ones, lots of green space, and easy to get to. It's on the way to Point Defiance so if you're planning on spending the day there, I highly recommend letting the kids play here for a bit too. We have yet to try out the water park area but certainly plan to. Even without that, Kandle Park would still deserve all five stars in my book. read more

Great place for families. I enjoy that they allow you to bring a little snack for your children inside the park. The bathrooms are mostly clean, the prices are very reasonable, the waves don't get to crazy. They have lockers available for I believe .25. They have life vest for free for children and baby sizes. I wish they would keep the pool a little cleaner but other than that nice place to go for summer weather. read more

What an amazing place to take the kids . Inexpensive and my kids absolutely love it there . So much space so the children aren't running into each other . Love going here read more

As far a public parks go, this place can't really get any better. I love the evening swim option (5:30-7:30). The little one loves the splash area and 1ft pool. Also, I was seriously impressed with the swimmer to lifeguard ratio and their no-nonsense approach. It's a good feeling to know those guys/girls are there keeping an eye on everyone. read more

What do you do with bored kids on a hot day? Round em up and let them roam here. Cheap to get in and they can play for hours.

Hey Marlene, I, too, live across the street from Kandle Park, and I have yet to see anyone "defecate" on trees in the park. I have only noticed young moms with babies in strollers, teenage boys playing pick-up soccer, and groups of young men playing basketball. If you're truly witnessing such reckless and disgusting acts, I hope you're doing more than posting nasty Yelp reviews. This park is incredible and I cannot imagine having a terrible experience here. read more

I love this place. I went their a few weeks back and it was a very hot day, they were to capacity within an hour of opening, though this sounds bad it was actually a plus, the park wasn't crazy busy because they would not let anyone else in, it had a large grass area and you're allowed to bring your own food so we could have a picnic. It was not so crowded as wild waves and although I have a season pass I have found that this park works better with my one-year-old nephew. I do kind of wish it had a slide but I appreciate the fact that their are no lines and their is an area for kids of all ages. I think $10 per person is completely reasonable and is actually helpful in keeping the park clean and safe by employing a small staff. Show up early if it's a hot day, I believe they open at noon each day, you will have a great time! read more

This is not only a swimming pool but also an AWESOME playground for kids with a huge, perfectly manicured grass field, great play structure, two skate parks, FREE SPRAY PARK for little ones (in the playground outside the gated swimming pool)...THE WORKS! I feel so blessed to live near this park that obviously the product of a lot of hard work by Tacoma Parks Dept. A++! read more

This park is awesome, I took my kids for a little fun and they enjoy every minute. Its not a big water park but price is reasonable for the size of the place. They also have a snack stand which I think is a great idea for people that go there. Plus outside of the pool area ,they have a normal park so kids can keep playing if they close and kids don't want to leave yet. Hope there will be more information on open days and times so we can be more aware of schedules. read more

Great spray park, playground and wave pool with lifeguards. I love the addition of chairs. Used to have to bring your own. Only one suggestion: get rid of the music. It's already loud and you can't really hear the music, it just adds to the noise and headache factor for us grandparents! read more

Love Kandle! I buy a season pass for my son and I. Great place for teens to meet for wholesome fun. I bring my own chair and hat--Not enough tables with shade. I avoid Kandle on hot days. read more

Lounging in the evening Summer sun, reading my homework while the kids and wife do the dip thing. As parks go, this is the She-BANG!

Such an awesome wave pool, lots of nice green grass to layout as well. There's a little jacuzzi pool right by the wave pool for the little kiddies. If you get there late there are usually no lounge chairs left. I like that they have an abundance of floating vests for my little ones. read more

One of my daughters favorite parks. She is looking forward to the newly added water park this summer.

We have only played in the water park portion of this park, and it was awesome! To the person who posted about the price- try checking with other water parks in the area... this is cheap for what you get!! If you're hoping for this much fun for free, forget it. Welcome to 2014. The best times to go are when the weather is iffy- the water is so warm, it doesn't matter if the temp outside is not so much. Party rental prices are extremely reasonable as well, plus you can bring your own food. I definitely recommend Kandle Pool!! read more

We had our two granddaughters visiting from Portland. Figured we'd take them to Kandle Park so that they could do the wave pool, while we sat in the shade and watched. Unfortunately, to do so would have set us back $32.00. Why is it that none of the reviews mention the cost of entry? We saved a few bucks by coming back at 2:30. $8.00 cheaper. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the pool, but we had to sit in the glare of the afternoon sun. No available shade. We enquired about four empty picnic tables above the pool which were shaded by large canvas sails. We were told that we would have to rent them in order to sit there. read more

My kids had a blast coming to the park and the water park! We came for my nephew's birthday and it happened to be on a nice sunny day...which means it was extremely crowded. I like that there's a wave pool for the older kids and a kiddie area for the toddlers. It accommodated to all the kids who were there. Also nice for the grown ups too, you can lay back and relax or enjoy the wave pool with the kids. They provide life vests for the kids who can't swim which is a total plus. The only additional thing that would've made the park more fun is a water slide! Even if it's a small slide in the toddler's area. They have a small concession stand who sells ice cream, beverages, and hot dogs. The nice thing about this park is that you can bring in your own food!! Pack a picnic basket full of food if you want to save some money. Although it was crowded, the kids didn't seem to mind at all. Everyone was having a blast. The kids who didn't want to leave the water still had an opportunity to run through the water at the park. read more

I will have to give this place 3 stars, just do to the lack of attention the lifeguards give. We were there yesterday when my mom who is an older lady fell and was having trouble getting up. Just a few feet by her is a lifeguard. She ended up breaking her arm. As I'm bring her out to get picked up ,she's having problems standing and no help with the people that work there. The front two ladies that work there I had to ask for a chair as they went along with their conversations. I will have to say thank you so very much to this gentleman that was there's with his two girls, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't of been able to get her to sit or calm down, he was very thoughtful and was willing to help. But beside the lifeguards the place is well kept up and very clean and great place for the kids to come and cool down. read more

This is a gem of a park in Tacoma. Always clean and well taken care of. My 4 year old loves to play here. Easy to get to and lots of parking. read more

Absolutely stellar park! So much fun for the kids. We could have stayed for hours (even without the pool)!

We absolutely love this park! Great play structure, lots of space to run, a spray ground and a skate park! We like to bring food and sit at the picnic tables. We always feel safe, a lot of families come to this park. read more

Great wave pool! Best of the community pools that charge you for access in Tacoma. Best part is the hot showers to rinse off and change clothes after swimming. read more