Hey, Tacoma, have you heard this is a new splash pad/sprayground on Ruston Way?
It’s at the Point Ruston end of Ruston Way, where you’ll also fine a super cute playground, a nice stretch of pavement for your new bike riders (or strollers), and a growing number of shops and restaurants. Yes, they’re all open to the public.
Several readers have already checked it out and had a blast! Melissa took this picture and describes it as a cross between a rocky fountain and a simple spray park. She added, ” It’s fun – the water squirts up in a pattern that makes it look like fish jumping/swimming upstream, matching the stonework on the ground.“
Currently the water is on from noon-10PM This is a correction from the time we listed earlier. Be sure to read Jill’s comment about how cool it looks at night!
The Point Ruston folks tell me hours will be expanded this summer, though with this warm weather it’s already getting plenty of action!
A few of you wrote in that you were a little confused about the restroom and parking situation still, so I went straight to our Point Ruston Friends.
Point Ruston @SoundsFunMom There is ample parking in the large parking structure as one enters from the roundabout off Ruston Way.Public restrooms are between the new fish and chips window and the main entrance to WildFin!
And, finally, as you’ll see in the comments, a couple of eagle eyed readers wondered what to make of the sign about the water quality. Essentially that’s the same kind of sign they put up near swimming pools-it’s a caution for thirsty dogs, not playing kiddos.
If you need to fuel up while you’re down there, Ruston Way is always fun to explore, and several readers have told us that the new Italian bakery, Dolce Si , is the place to hit for sweet, Italian pastries or Gelato. It’s also in the Point Ruston complex.
Happy splashing!
Heather says
April 19, 2016 at 9:04 pmThe water was on Sunday well before 2:00.
Maegen Blue says
April 19, 2016 at 9:15 pmThanks, Heather! I’m checking with our Point Ruston peeps to see if the hours are different on weekends. Thanks so much for letting us know.
Jill says
April 19, 2016 at 10:48 pmWe went at night – the water feature was still on plus it was lit up so it really looked like a frog hopping across the pavement, SO much fun!!
Maegen Blue says
April 20, 2016 at 9:56 amOh, how awesome! Thanks so much for sharing, Jill!
Heather says
April 20, 2016 at 3:05 pmHere is a site that shows all of the spraygrounds in Tacoma or surrounding area:
http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/spraygrounds/
Maegen Blue says
April 20, 2016 at 3:14 pmYep, those are all the spraygounds run through Metro Parks Tacoma.
We also have a complete list of every splashy place in the South Sound, but we haven’t updated it for 2016 yet.
https://www.soundsfunmom.com/get-wet-spraygrounds-fountains-and-wading-pools/
It’s not supposed to be sprayground weather yet!
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Melissa Hurley says
April 23, 2016 at 11:06 amThis park is nice, they made the Rocky area with big, medium, small rocks to climb on with water running down like small water falls and the bigger rocks have massive water shooting straight up out of the rocks. Along with the flat spray ground that has water squirting in different patterns that as night time starts about 8:00 the whole spray park lights up different colors changing frequently. There are speakers outside on the light poles surrounding the area playing instrumental music. The Wildfire restaurant has an outdoor eating area over looking the park. The spray park sits up top of a new playground and bike n trolley bike rentals. All of this is right there along the bay water with a beautiful view. Not to mention free garage parking that has security. You feel like you are on a vacation. It’s a nice little getaway. The only thumbs down I give this is that they placed all the garbage cans right smack next to all the benches for seating. When the cans odor up you just have to suck it up or stand somewhere. But other than that, plenty of relaxation or go for a walk.
Maegen Blue says
April 24, 2016 at 5:42 pmThanks so much for that great review, Melissa!
Melissa says
May 31, 2016 at 1:33 pmI am curious if this was actually designed to be a spray park for kids. Theres signs up stating its chemically treated water and to keep your dogs from drinking it. Makes me wonder if this was just supposed to be a water display not attraction. Thanks for your feedback.
Maegen Blue says
May 31, 2016 at 1:40 pmIt was definitely designed to be used. I’m not sure about the sign, but I will check with our Point Ruston friends to find out!
Maegen Blue says
May 31, 2016 at 2:54 pmO.K…Here is the official word from Chris at Point Ruston. Happy Splashing!
The water is treated like pool water, so it’s definitely intended to be interactive! This is a disclosure the Health Dept. required to be posted so that the water is not ingested (by dogs mostly). I wouldn’t be surprised if an identical sign was installed at all other spray grounds.
hillary says
July 15, 2016 at 12:13 amThe name of who is in charge?? Sorry for the typo error above
Maegen Blue says
July 15, 2016 at 12:13 pmHi, Hillary,
Our community website isn’t related to the splash pad at Ruston Way, but I think the easiest thing would be for you to contact someone with Point Ruston. You can find them on Twitter or Facebook, or they have a sales office in the restored ferry boat down there on the promenade. Hope that helps!