Heat wave is coming to Tacoma. Here are some safe places to stay cool this weekend

Liz Moomey
·2 min read
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With temperatures expected to climb to the 80s or higher this weekend in Tacoma but emergency management officials warning about cold-related dangers of local waterways, where can you go to cool off?

In Tacoma, the first heat wave of 2022 is expected Saturday to Monday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle. Temperatures will peak across Western Washington with lowland and mountain valley locations seeing high temperatures in the 80s to around 90 degrees by Sunday.

Though it’s finally summer, water temperatures will still be very cold. A NWS Seattle office advisory said there was an elevated risk of a “significant increase in cold and high water-related incidents” over the weekend due to mountain runoff of winter snow into lakes, rivers and creeks.

Fortunately, there are other ways to beat the heat. Tacoma residents can keep cool at a Metro Parks pool or splash pad.

Teddy Williams, 6, plays in the splashground at Jefferson Park in Tacoma on Thursday June 23, 2022.
Teddy Williams, 6, plays in the splashground at Jefferson Park in Tacoma on Thursday June 23, 2022.

“Spraygrounds, indoor pools, community centers and shady parks are all good choices if people need to cool down on a hot day,” said Metro Parks Board president Andrea Smith. “Metro Parks is happy that we can support community health and well-being with so many fun, accessible options around Tacoma.”

Metro Parks Tacoma has 10 spraygrounds open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily:

▪ Wright Sprayground, 501 South I St.

▪ Wapato Hills Sprayground, 6231 S. Wapato St.

▪ Verlo Sprayground, 4321 McKinley Ave.

▪ Titlow Sprayground, 8425 6th Ave.

▪ South Park Sprayground, 4851 S. Tacoma Way

▪ SERA Campus Sprayground, 6002 S. Adams St.

▪ Norpoint Sprayground, 4818 Nassau Ave. NE

▪ Kandle Sprayground, 2323 N. Shirley St.

▪ Jefferson Park Sprayground, 801 N. Mason Ave.

▪ Franklin Sprayground, 1201 S. Puget Sound Ave.

The spraygrounds are free.

Jefferson Park’s splashground will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to help those in need to cool off as the temperatures rise but Puget Sound’s water doesn’t and still remains too cold to swim in.
Jefferson Park’s splashground will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to help those in need to cool off as the temperatures rise but Puget Sound’s water doesn’t and still remains too cold to swim in.

Metro Parks’ outdoor pools, Kandle and Stewart Heights, are closed until July 5, but three indoor pools are open year-round inside the community centers:

▪ Eastside Pool, 1721 E 56th St., is open 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.

▪ Center at Norpoint Pool, 4818 Nassau Ave. NE, is open noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.

▪ People’s Pool, 1602 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.

Pool use is free with a center pass, which are $25 a month for adults and are free for ages 18 and under.

If you want to stay cool and dry, Metro Parks’ community centers offer air conditioned indoor areas for recreational activities and relaxation. STAR Center, 3873 S. 66th St., is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Sunday.

Metro Parks also recommended shady parks, where temperatures can feel 10-15 degrees cooler. Trees and forests can lower surface and air temperatures. Forested parks include Point Defiance Park, Swan Creek Park, Wright Park and the Tacoma Nature Center. Titlow and Browns Point are located near the water for added cooling.