Sound Sound Parks: What's Open, What's Not

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Governor Inslee has relaxed social distancing restrictions allowing many parks across the state to reopen to the public on Tuesday, but not every park has enough staff or resources to fully reopen just yet.

Metro Parks Tacoma says all the parks they operate are open to the public, but they all will be lacking certain amenities. Restrooms, picnic shelters and parking lots at many parks remain closed. Metro Parks says that's because they have too many furloughed staff to be fully operational right now.

Also closed are:

• All playgrounds
• Sport courts
• Skate Parks
• The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
• Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
• Eastside, STAR, People's and Norpoint community centers
• The Tacoma Nature Center
• The W.W. Seymour Conservatory
• Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
• Metro Parks Headquarters

All gated parking lots also remain closed, including those at Brown's Point, Chinese Reconciliation Park and two of the entrances to Point Defiance Park. While fishing is now allowed again, the Point Defiance Marina also remains closed without an estimated date for when it may reopen. Similarly, golfing is now allowed across the state, but Meadow Park Golf Course remains closed to the public.

So, what can nature lovers do? They can enjoy all of Metro Parks Tacoma's regular parks for walking, running or cycling, with some extra guidelines. Visitors are still asked to practice safe social distancing, avoiding gathering in large groups and keeping a safe six foot space from everyone else. They're also asked to take all their belongings and trash home when they visit.

For more information on the closures, including information on program or membership refunds, visit Metro Parks Tacoma's website at https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/updates/.