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    McKinley Park

    4.0 (7 reviews)

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    Wildflowers at McKinley Park.
    Alden C.

    Wow! I am surprised that McKinley Park doesn't have more Yelp reviews! Just one other one! Maybe it is because of the area of the city it's in or perhaps it's just not a park people who use Yelp go to. Who really knows. Perhaps it's more of a unsung park for the city, an underrated one. There weren't a lot of people here when I went here to explore it on Memorial Day Weekend. Of course the park is quite large and layered so people can easily slip from view. The park is layered down towards a wetland gulch. As you walk the trails down to the bottom you come across little arrangements that people make with wood, signs of positive and encouraging nature and so forth. There is even a waterfall here as you make your way down which is an unexpected but pleasant surprise. There are some of the typical park amenities at the top of the gulch. On one end of the park there is a more manicured area with seating and playground equipment. Parking isn't too bad. There is not exactly a parking lot here at the park and so you have to park on the street. It isn't a very busy street so that is good. Even though the park goes down at a slope and may look steep the stroll down and up really isn't too exhausting for those of us who aren't in the prime of fitness. McKinley Park also seems to be a leash free dog park of sorts. While I didn't see any signs to indicate that it was a dog park all of the dogs I met were not on leashes. I saw this through the entire park going towards the bottom. The dogs and their owners were friendly and seem well controlled. As you go along the trails of the park I got the distinct feeling of being in a more rural, forest setting which was very pleasant. I did here the roar of the nearby interstate most of the time but if you can tune that out you can get what I feel like a good opportunity to bond with nature, do a little bit of low level hiking(urban style of course) without having to be in the middle of nowhere and do a tedious drive back home once you are through.

    Chrissy L.

    Had the best birthday party here, it was the perfect place to have 75 to 90 people. No one bothered us, we had games and three bbq's going at once. Great place to have a gathering.

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    8 years ago

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    Wright Park

    Wright Park

    4.2
    (72 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    Wright Park is truly one of Tacoma's gems! It's a 33-acre urban park that feels like a mix between…read morea botanical garden and a community gathering space. The moment you step in, you're surrounded by towering, hundred-year-old trees from all over the world that give the park a magical, shaded atmosphere. It's not just a park, it's also an arboretum, so tree lovers will appreciate the variety and history here. At the heart of it all is the Seymour Conservatory, a Victorian-style glasshouse that looks like it belongs in a storybook. Inside, you'll find a lush collection of tropical plants, seasonal floral displays, and even quirky additions like cacti and Golden Dart Frogs (fun fact: in the wild, they're considered the most poisonous frogs on Earth, but here they're safe since their diet is different). Beyond the conservatory, the park has a beautiful lily pond, fountains, open lawns perfect for picnics, and plenty of walking paths. It's also very family-friendly with playgrounds and lots of space to run around. Wright Park has that perfect mix of history, nature, and community. Whether you're here to stroll among the century-old trees, relax by the pond, or pop into the conservatory, it's easily one of Tacoma's most picturesque hidden gems. Best part? Admission is free, with a donation box available if you'd like to support it.

    Beautiful park with a little man-made lake, a kid's play place, a botanical garden, walking paths,…read moreand lots of place to spread out, picnic and relax. There are a multitude of trees providing shade and many have signs showing when they were first planted, which provides some interesting history of this area. It's within walking distance of a few shops, including a pet store, bicycle store, restaurants, and more. I suppose at night it can be seedy, but during the day it's a lovely park to walk around.

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    10/17/25
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    Walking Havanna! 10/17/25
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    10/17/25 Havanna & her Nana

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    10/17/25 Havanna & her Nana
    Kandle Park

    Kandle Park

    4.5
    (39 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    This place is pretty cool and a great place to spend a day with some young relatives. It has a…read moreplayground, 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.

    Ridiculous I drove my two sons down here and my husband to go swimming. I did not have a bathing…read moresuit 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?

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    Kandle Park
    Kandle Park
    Kandle Park

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    McKinley Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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