POINT DEFIANCE PARK

Urban parks offer many of the same activities as national and state parks

Point Defiance Park in Tacoma Washington is a prime example

Millions of people enjoy the beautiful and many national and state parks this country has to offer. However, there is also a wealth of urban parks throughout the country that offer a variety of activities for many city dwellers.

Urban parks in the United States have been in existence since the mid 1800s. The first urban parks were known as pleasure grounds and were typically placed on the outskirts of cities. The primary purpose of the parks was to allow city residents to relax in nature. As time passed the urban area grew around these parks and the parks added features such as zoos, sports fields, gardens and museums. Some of the better known urban parks are Central Park in New York, Lincoln Park in Chicago and Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada.

An urban park not so well known nationally but highly regarded and offering a wide range of activities is Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Washington. The park was established in 1888 and today more than two million people visit the 702 acre park each year.

Variety is what makes this park special. Point Defiance offers visitors the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest, a marina complex with a fishing pier, miles of shoreline including Owen Beach where they have a picnic area and kayak rentals, botanical gardens, the Fort Nisqually living history museum, miles of hiking trails mostly through forest areas and cycling along Five Mile Drive, the scenic road that runs along the edge of the park.

For more information on Point Defiance and other Tacoma metro parks please visit: www.metroparkstacoma.org

For more on urban parks in general please visit these sites:

http://cityparksblog.org/

http://www.cityparksalliance.org/