Summer Playground Program

Metro Parks Partners With Subway, for Free Lunches!

Submitted by Jennifer Boutell on July 1, 2011 - 8:06am

Every year, Metro Parks feeds thousands of kids through the USDA Simplified Summer Food Program.  With the need especially great this year and parents expressing some disatisfaction with last year's offerings (cold pizza pockets! Ew) Metro Parks decided to revamp its offerings in partnership with Subway restaurants.  With nutritious food that actually tastes good, a lot fewer kids will be coming home hungry this summer.

This year, summer food program sites will offer Subway's FRESH Fit for Kids® meals.  Meals are always free to anyone under 18, (no income qualification, this is the "simplified" part of the program) and are served at noon at the following locations:

Every day, Monday - Sunday at:

 

Portland Avenue Park and Community Center (155 Good Days in Tacoma)

Submitted by admin on July 31, 2007 - 12:59pm

2010 update: Portland Avenue has a brand new playground, with Kompan equipment. It looks nice although we haven't tried it out yet. The wading pool is still there, and still popular.

Today we thought we'd try out the Summer Playground Program at Portland Avenue Park. This is a good-sized park along a nice looking stretch of Portland Ave. It reminds me of Jefferson before the renovations. There's lots of open space, an older Big Toy, and a wading pool.

Manitou Park (178 Good Days in Tacoma: Wading Pools and There May or May Not Be Such a Thing As a Free Lunch)

Submitted by admin on July 7, 2007 - 9:43am

Manitou Park used to be an important stop on the streetcar line that ran through Tacoma, out to Fort Lewis. These days, it's a relatively sleepy spot in a quiet neighborhood between South Tyler and South Orchard streets. Another shady park, with BBQ facilities, picnic shelters, a nice playground, and an old-school wading pool. It would be a great place to plan a family picnic, since it doesn't tend to get too crowded.

McKinley Playfield (186 Good Days in Tacoma)

Submitted by admin on June 29, 2007 - 2:39pm

McKinley Playfield (which is not McKinley Park)has a brand new sprayground, just opened this week. The official sprayground grand opening celebration takes place at this park today, from 1 to 4 pm. This sprayground is a bit bigger than the one at Jefferson Park, and was quite a bit more crowded when we visited this Tuesday.

Jefferson Park (189 Good Days in Tacoma)

Submitted by Jennifer Boutell on June 26, 2007 - 4:00pm

The new sprayground at Jefferson Park is crazy-fun. The fact that the temperature didn't really get up above 75 degrees yesterday, did not deter my 6 year old from spending a solid two hours in the chilly water, laughing, giggling and jumping all the while. I was a little sad to see the wading pool go, but no longer! Anything that can burn that much kid energy for that long without a parent having to hover and worry is awesome in my book.

Franklin Park (195 Good Days in Tacoma)

Submitted by admin on June 20, 2007 - 3:24pm

2011 Updat: Franklin's new playground is up and running.  It's got a great design for groups of multiple age kids, with smaller equipment for little kids and more challenging/spinning/climbing equipment for older kids.  Nice swings, too.  Franklin is a great park, go check it out.

2010 Update: Franklin's wading pool is still alive and kicking. The playground needs some help and will receive an update ahead of the rest of the park renovation, hopefully this summer. Franklin's still a great place to go for a wading pool, picnic shelter, Summer Playground Program and USDA free summer meals, but don't come for the playground.

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