Park Love: Kandle Park

Wow, it’s been a long time since I did a park review. I’m not sure why. Parks are our thing. It’s what we do…all the time. What should we do? Hmm, let me think…go to a park! Most of the parks we go to are Tacoma Metro Parks and they re-opened a few weeks ago. Yay! But with precautions, of course. If you check their website, it lists the following precautions: “Capacity is limited to 5 users at a time. Face coverings required unless able to maintain a distance of at least six feet from others outside your household.”

In our experience so far, the playgrounds have been pretty empty. I’ve also found they are less crowded the earlier you go. Mid-day is prime park time, so you might try to avoid going at that time if you can.

But let’s just talk about playgrounds and parks and not coronavirus stuff. Cool? So, Kandle Park is one of the larger parks near our house, and we enjoy our visits there. I shared it on my Instagram stories a few weeks ago, and some folks didn’t recognize it, which sparked me to write this post. Let’s talk about Kandle Park, shall we?

(Psst: and if you’re digging this park post, you might visit my Puget Park and Tot Lot posts.)

Favorite Play Features

Slides: Can you believe it, there are six slides (and that’s not counting the two that are double slides). There are high slides and small slides. Looping slides and straight slides. And a baby slide. You need a slide, this park has it.

Swings: There are also quite a few swings here as well. There are four regular, big-kid swings and two baby swings. There is also a saucer swing as well.

Rocking Boat: There is a boat shaped play structure that will rock back-and-forth if you stand in the middle and push on your legs. Most kids love it, or they are completely terrified (no in-between feelings, you love it or hate it, haha).

Big Play Structure: There are two main play structures at Kandle. One is for older kids and then the other is for younger kids. It can be tough to keep a young kid off the big kid play structure, so be prepared to go on the big kid play structure as a parent. And here’s my warning: watch your head on the structure. It’s low and I’ve bonked my head a few times and it HURTS. Beyond that, I do appreciate the different age ranged playing structures. With two kids, it is nice to have the option for the big kid to have more challenging play structure features while the younger kid has his own age-appropriate play structure features.

Climbing: There are lots of ladders and such for climbing on the play structures. Then have these other twisty, twirty green things for older kids. There is also a fake rock with a rock between as a balance beam, but also the rocks are fun to climb.

Steering Wheels with Sound: In the younger play strucuture, under the slide, there is a wheel that you can turn fast and it’ll make music. Kids have to learn about taking turns here. There is a similar thing up ont he big play structure as well. The only frustrating thing about these is that you really have to turn it fast and a lot to get it to work, so younger kids can get frustured. Be prepared to do a lot of spinning for them.

Favorite Park Features

Size: This is a bigger park, so there is lots of space to run and play. This has it’s plus and minuses, though. It can be easier to lose sight of your kid at larger parks (I have two kids that like to run-off/wander, so I have to keep eagle eyes on at all times).

Ground: Kandle has a rubber type ground rather than wood chips. I do like this material because when it rains, it’s not as mucky. And you don’t get home to find woodchips falling out of your shoes. However, it is black and gets so incredibly hot in the summer. But this could be beneficial in the winter, so there’s that. I’m not sure if it’s better or worse for fall impact. I know my son has fallen into woodchips and I was surprised he didn’t get hurt at all. He hasn’t fallen here (yet?) but I feel like it could cause a skinned knee or burn (but really, this happens to kids everywhere, all the time, am I right?)

Picnic Tables: There are a fair number of picnic tables, which can be nice for a picnic or snack at the park on a nice day!

Restrooms: Hallejuah the have restrooms and not portapotties, but real restrooms. Not the cleanest, but beach/park type restrooms and it better than nothing.

Parking: Plenty of it. I can be crowded in the summer when the pool is open, but I’ve never had a problem.

Mini Spray Park (Free): There is a small spray feature that’s on in the summer (in non-coronavirus times) which can be a nice cool off. Or frustrating if your kid decides to run in the water but you don’t have a back-up change of clothes with and they start screaming because they are wet. Oh, wait, just me? I’ve learned and now have a change of clothes permanently in the car.

Park Bummers

Teenagers: I haven’t seen this lately, but in the past, I’ve seen a fair number of teenagers hanging out here with a bit too much PDA. Or climbing on the rooftops of the play structure. The mom in me whats to say something to them, but I hold back usually.

Hot in Summer: See the ground bullet point above. The black ground material and the lack of shade on the playgruond itself (there are trees on the perimeter), makes this a bit hot in the summer.

Crowded: This is a fun park, and the word is out. It can get crowded here on a nice day or after school (there is Downing Elemantary school next door).

Other Things of Note

Age Range: With the two structures, the age range is quite big. So this park is great for both older and younger kids.

Skateboarding: There is a skateboard area not far from the playground. It can be fun to watch.

Grassy Field: There is a nice grassy area with a paved sidewalk that goes all the way around. And a garden there, too.

Kandle Pool: It’s closed this summer (corona strikes again), but generally in the summer there is a big pool here that you can pay to enter. I’ve never been, but you can look longingly at it through the fence at the playground. ;)

Basketball Courts: These are further away, so you won’t see them from the playground, but they are by the grassy area and the other side of the pool.