Kandle Park, New Master Plan

Plans to convert Kandle Park into an urban playland have taken a big step forward, with a new Draft Master Plan, featuring a beach-entry pool, sprayground, spray pool and skate park. Under the plan, Kandle would also get an all-new playground and keep the popular community garden space as well as a large open area for sports practices or other open ended uses. My kids had the opportunity to provide their input this summer along with the rest of the kids from the Gonyea Boys & Girls Club, who can't wait to play at their new park. Here's our last post about Kandle, from 2008: Having always driven by on N 26th Street, I always thought Kandle Park was just a sports field. Actually, it's a really cool urban village green sort of place, with a nice playground, too.

For the past two weeks we've had baseball practice there, along with 200 or so other North and West end residents playing a variety of sports, enjoying the play structure, or just taking in the lovely flowering trees that line the park on two sides.

Kandle also has a community garden and some promising looking blackberry bramble, kept back from a neat little path. I'll have to stop by in mid Summer and check out the blackberry pickin's.

The wading pool no longer appears to be in use, however there has been some talk of relocating the West End pool there once Titlow's is shut down. (This project seems to be on hold for now.) Kandle would be a beautiful if somewhat windswept location for the pool.

The playground is an older Big Toy style, perfect for kids ages 5 and up. Toddlers may find it a bit challenging. Bathrooms are open now, May through September.

Kandle Park
N 26th and Shirley Streets (just past Orchard)
Tacoma