46 playgrounds

2,960 acres

81 trail miles

10 spraygrounds

80 park and recreation facilities

8.2 miles of publicly accessible beach and shoreline

5 community centers and pools

Tacoma’s Parks

Founded in 1907, Metro Parks Tacoma stewards 80 parks and recreation properties, including 46 playgrounds, five community centers, a world-class zoo and aquarium, a wildlife park, and a botanical conservatory. Metro Parks provides creative, recreational and educational programming for all generations, throughout Tacoma.

The Tacoma Parks Foundation (TPF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Metro Parks Tacoma (MPT) programs and projects. MPT stewards parks and green spaces throughout Tacoma and provides recreational opportunities that enhance our community’s health and happiness.

where we come in

Tacoma's award-winning parks system deserves a place within Tacoma’s charitable and philanthropic landscape. To provide opportunities for this, a Foundation was launched in 1991 as Metro Parks Tacoma’s official 501(c)3 charitable partner. Today, the Tacoma Parks Foundation (TPF) continues this rich history as an independent and collaborative partner to Metro Parks Tacoma.

TPF cultivates a community invested in providing parks and recreation access for all. The Foundation raises funds to help provide plentiful, equitable access to nature, play, and recreation in Tacoma in addition to supporting Metro Parks Tacoma’s ongoing programs and projects.

investing in your parks

Parks and recreational programs accessible to all, enhance our quality of life in many ways, providing health, social, physical, and environmental benefits to all who live, work or play in Tacoma.

donate now

for parks

a partnership

parks matter.

As part of a broad community partnership, the Greater Metro Parks Foundation partnered with Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound to raise $3,000,000 in capital for Eastside Community Center, working toward a $7,000,000 endowment to fund ESCC youth programming in perpetuity.

Eastside Community Center

news

in the

In 2022, TPF raised funds to support the replacement of worn and outdated site furnishings (benches and picnic tables with built-in chairs) along the Ruston Way Waterfront. The new site furnishings are expected to be installed by summer 2023! We are grateful to the Ben B. Cheney Foundation, the Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund, and the Oscar and Olivann Hokold Foundation for their support of this project.


RUSTON WAY SITE FURNISHINGS PROJECT:


news

in the

equity + access

collaboration

youth development

thriving communities

We work to counteract historic inequities, overcome barriers, and create a sense of belonging for all.

We seek to amplify and champion support for parks programs, people, places, and projects.

We nurture the future of Tacoma by prioritizing experiences for youth.

We all benefit by taking care of each other, ourselves, and our communities in a healthy and sustainable way.

donate now

Parks and recreational programs accessible to all, enhance our quality of life in many ways, providing health, social, physical, and environmental benefits to all who live, work or play in Tacoma.

We cultivate a community invested in providing parks and recreation access for all.

our mission

Plentiful, equitable access to nature, play,and recreation in Tacoma.

our vision