Metro Parks Tacoma to remove Jane Clark Park wading pool

Metro Parks Tacoma officials announced Monday they plan to remove the wading pool at Jane Clark Park in the North Tacoma neighborhood.

In recent years, Metro Parks Tacoma has transitioned to spraygrounds as wading pools (many dating back 50 years) reach the end of their cycles, according to Metro Parks Tacoma Trades Manager Vito Iacobazzi and Metro Parks Tacoma Chief Planning Manager Doug Fraser. “With rising challenges meeting health codes, and new technologies now available, we see that spraygrounds make the most sense for the community,” said Iacobazzi.

“When an asset like the aged wading pool is no longer functional, Metro Parks Tacoma tries to remove it as soon as possible so the area of the park can be repurposed and visually welcoming,” added Fraser.

Metro Parks Tacoma began to accept bids on Weds., Aug. 20, for a project to remove the wading pool at Jane Clark Park. A contractor is expected to be selected early next month. While Jane Clark Park is not the site for a future sprayground, Metro Parks Tacoma plans to work with the neighborhood to determine potential playground, picnic enhancements, or other park improvements following the removal of the pool and as capital improvements in the 2014 bond are scheduled.

Metro Parks Tacoma has installed spraygrounds in larger community parks throughout the city to provide free water play through an extended season. There are now 10 spray ground locations: Kandle Park, Jefferson Park, Titlow Park, Franklin Park, Verlo Playfield, Wapato Hills Park, Wright Park, Norpoint Park, South Park, and the largest and newest that opened at the SERA Campus this summer. Although they are not in every neighborhood, the distribution aims to provide a balanced system city-wide, according to Metro Parks Tacoma officials.