Tacoma middle and high school students have at least six free, no-registration spaces spread across the city where they can walk in with a school ID and stay.

With summer underway, families should call ahead to confirm schedules, which may differ from school-year hours.

Metro Parks Tacoma operates four community centers using the same weekday drop-in model: students show a school ID and walk in free.

STAR Center, 3873 S. 66th St., South Tacoma (253-404-3939). The 32,000-square-foot facility offers video and tabletop games, workout equipment, a kitchen, and basketball courts connected to neighboring school athletic complexes.

Eastside Community Center, 1721 E. 56th St. (253-404-3990). At 55,000 square feet, it's the largest in the Metro Parks network. Teens can use academic lounges for homework help, computer labs for digital projects, the pool, and kitchen baking stations.

People's Community Center, 1602 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Hilltop (253-404-3915). Features an indoor swimming pool, splash pad, and basketball courts, according to Metro Parks Tacoma.

Center at Norpoint, 4818 Nassau Ave. NE, Northeast Tacoma (253-404-3900). Offers a gym, swimming pool, and the McCormick Social Hall. Norpoint also hosts High School Teen Late Night events on weekends, according to Metro Parks Tacoma.

Beyond the parks system, Oasis Youth Center at 2215 Pacific Ave. (253-671-2838) has served LGBTQ+ and questioning youth since a group of Tacoma residents founded it in 1985. Oasis describes itself as the only center dedicated exclusively to queer and questioning youth in Pierce County.

The organization runs more than 30 hours of weekly programming including peer activities, cultural celebrations, and artistic expression, according to SouthSoundTalk. Over its history, Oasis has welcomed more than 10,000 youth, staff, and volunteers, SouthSoundTalk reported.

Tacoma Public Library rounds out the list. The Main, Fern Hill, and South Tacoma branches offer dedicated youth zones with Nintendo Switch gaming stations, 50-inch LED screens, ergonomic seating, and open computer labs — all free. The library system's Maker Labs give students access to 3D printers, sewing machines, and crafting tools.

The Main Library's second-floor Community Hub partners with Write253 and the Remakery for classes and drop-in sessions, according to the library's teen programming page.

All six spaces share one principle: teens belong there without paying, signing up, or proving anything beyond enrollment in school. Families can call the numbers listed above to confirm summer hours and programming before heading out.