Gas Station Park (Mystery Park at S 48th and Park Avenue)

Update: The official name is "Gas Station Park" - more on this later.

OK, it's not really a mystery park, but that's what it seemed like when we ran into this bright blue cookie-moster colored park yesterday. Turns out, it was converted from an old gas station through the Health Department's "Brownfields" project and is now being transformed into a playground by the South End Neighborhood Council.

They've been working on this playground for a while, but this is the first time we've seen the gate open and kids playing inside. It's still not quite done, there are big piles of dirt and some landscaping still clearly needs to be finished, but the playground is in and the kids were playing Sunday afternoon.

That interesting shredded surface material is recycled, treated tire. It's soft, pliable, and an absolute kid-magnet in bright blue.

Naturally, I have to tell you about the fence. There is a pretty nice one! A good looking wrought iron fence with two easily identifiable openings on the less-busy street, and "baffles" - forcing children to turn at least once before running out of the park. (I wrote about these a while back in the Sawyer Tot Lot post, when I talked to a playground safety expert.)

I couldn't get through to the South End Neighborhood Council today for a progress report, but it looks like it's very near completion. It might not really be officially open yet, so don't be surprised if it's closed off again. Hopefully, when it's done the neighborhood council will add a sign, so that people will know who to contact in the event of problems or maintenance needs.

Mystery Cookie Monster Playground

S 48th and Park Ave

Tacoma