China Lake Park

At the southern end of the esplanade, it provides 2.5 acres of much-needed waterfront park space with esplanade paths, seats, picnic spaces, green space, landscaping, and parking. It is part of Tacoma's downtown waterfront renovation.

With a soccer field, walking pathways, and play equipment, this little park caters to the recreation needs of its neighbors. In 1981, this 2.68-acre community park was constructed.

The north end playfield project started approximately two decades ago. The late Benjamin L. Harvey's estate provided the initial financial support. Mr. Harvey's mother was named after the field. The park district bought the land at North 39th and Orchard from Pierce county at a tax sale in 1935. During the depression, WPA personnel worked on the site, but the current operations uncovered the 8.5-acre field from beneath a thicket of alders that had grown up during the war years (from "Long-Planned North End Playfield is Growing" in the May 28, 1948 Tacoma Labor Advocate).

Franklin Park stretches from Lawrence Street to Puget Sound and from South 12th to South 16th Avenues, covering more than 20 acres. The West End Playground Association donated the majority of the land to the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma in 1937 for a "perpetual public park and playground."

Hamilton Park was named after City Attorney Robert Hamilton in 1984. Before retiring as City Attorney, Robert Hamilton worked for 29 years, and then-Councilmember Jack Hyde recommended naming the lot after him in appreciation of his "long and committed and honorable service." It's one of the Ruston Way parts managed by Metro Parks Tacoma and owned by the City of Tacoma.

This location is in Cummings Park, which is part of a network of parks and public space that runs parallel to Ruston Way along the Commencement Bay shoreline. These parks together make up over three kilometers of public beach. There are several vistas and historic sites in this park system.