Cross Park

alertOutdoor Restrooms Temporary Closure

2/1/2023 - Due to vandalism, the outdoor restrooms at Cross Park are temporarily closed. Portable restrooms will be available while repairs are being made. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

4420 Military Road East
Tacoma, WA 98446 (map)

About the Park

This 64-acres in the Frederickson area known as the Stan and Joan Cross Park lies in the heart of the County's urban growth area between 176th Street East and Military Road East.

As part of Phase 1 of the park's Master Plan, the northern 4-acres of the site have been developed to provide the community with green space, a universally accessible playground, historic barns refurbished into a community center, the indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces, walking paths, picnic areas, and on-site parking.

Visitors will enjoy walking along the pathways and accessible picnicking opportunities near wetlands and forested areas adjacent to the newly-improved Naches Trail Preserve prairie habitat, providing a unique opportunity to connect with nature. 

Pierce County Parks Recognized with Project of the Year Award 2022


Pierce County Parks has earned recognition by the American Public Works Association Washington State Chapter for its preservation work done at the Frederickson Community Center located in Cross Park. The award recognizes the best in management and administration for successfully completing public works projects. Specifically, the preservation of the Frederickson Community Center won the 2022 Historical/Preservation $5 million to $25 million category.

Cross Park also provides an on-going restoration of the headwaters of Clover Creek and the adjacent priority habitat of prairie grassland, white oak savannah and wetland. 

Tour of Cross Park

Park Hours:

Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. unless otherwise posted. Park operating hours are subject to change moving into the fall and winter seasons when daylight hours grow shorter.

  • Seasonal Hours:
    • Outdoor restrooms are open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the winter season.

Rentals

Amenities:

  • Frederickson Community Center
  • play structure
  • grass playfield
  • accessible restrooms
  • open space
  • walking trails
  • picnic areas
  • parking lot

All Pierce County parks and facilities will continue to follow safety protocols and restrictions in accordance with Governor Inslee’s Safe Start Proclamation

Thank You!

Cross Park was made possible by the generous donations and funds from the Friends of Stan and Joan Cross Park, the tax payers of Washington State, Pierce County impact fees, and all of the contributing private donors and charitable organizations. 

Park History

Cross Park has a rich history in the Frederickson community from the Native Americans and the pioneer days to the mid 1930's when the Mayflower Dairy hay and milking farm became a staple in the community. According to Joan Cross, "The land of the Stan and Joan Cross Park is known to be a part of the Frederick Meyer Land Donation Claim in the mid 1800's. In 1973, Stan and Joan Cross purchased sixty two and one half acres from the Sutter family. They raised beef cattle and other farm animals. The dairy had irrigation rights to take water from Clover Creek from an 1858 permit obtained by Frederick and Louise Meyer. The Cross family kept up this permit until the land was sold to Pierce County" in 2003.

image of Cross Park historical barn

Phase 1 construction began June 10, 2019 with the focus on refurbishing the historic barns and was completed in September of 2020. Project design was made possible thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Friends of Stan and Joan Cross Park, which pledged $15,000 to support the original grant application.

Contact Us:

(253) 798-4055
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m to 4 p.m.