Lakewood operations closed July 4
Lakewood City Hall and the Lakewood police station are closed Thursday, July 4 in observation of the Fourth of July holiday.
Regular operations resume Friday, July 5. Lakewood police officers will perform regular duties.
Celebrate safely this Fourth of July
Yes, fireworks are allowed in Lakewood, but only on July 4 between the hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
If you choose to use fireworks at your residence on July 4, please be smart:
- Don’t mix alcohol and explosives.
- Keep children away from fireworks.
- Be mindful not only about where you light your fireworks, but also where they will fall.
- It is illegal to use fireworks on city property, in city parks or on school district property.
The best way to enjoy a safe Fourth of July is not to use fireworks at home and instead attend a public display. Considering visiting one of these Fourth of July events:
- JBLM Food Trucks & Fireworks (open to DOD ID card holders and their guests)
- Tacoma Summer Blast
- Steilacoom’s 4th of July Parade and Fireworks
What type of fireworks are permitted in Lakewood?
Not all fireworks are legal to use in Lakewood. Review this list of fireworks to see what is legal and illegal to use within city limits.
To learn more about fireworks and how to safely handle them, please visit West Pierce Fire & Rescue’s Fireworks webpage. To report illegal use of fireworks use this online reporting tool from South Sound 911, which goes live June 28.
Counting trees in Lakewood
This week contractors working for the city began county trees in Lakewood to develop a tree inventory.
The contractors, FACCET NW, will be walking and driving through Lakewood for the next few months to count the number, species, health, and other features of trees. This is the first step to design and launch an urban forestry program in the city.
The Lakewood City Council prioritized trees with a series of actions. That included adding a chapter to its 2022 Comprehensive Plan on Energy and Climate Change, adopting a tree preservation code and adopting a goal to have a tree canopy of 40% throughout the city by 2050.
Once complete the tree inventory report will be presented to the City Council at a meeting in November. Find more information and track the progress of the inventory on the city’s Urban Forestry Program webpage.
Volunteers needed to heat map Lakewood
This summer, Pierce County is doing an urban heat mapping project. Lakewood is one of the cities being mapped. This community-based science project will be conducted by heat ambassadors.
Volunteers are needed for three, one-hour time slots starting at 6 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Aug. 3 and Aug. 10. Two backup dates, Aug. 4 and Aug. 11 also need volunteers standing by.
As a volunteer you will help create high-resolution descriptions of ambient heat at the human level.
Find more information about this effort at the Tacoma Tree Foundation website. Want to volunteer? Use this form to sign up.
2024 Summer Nights at the Pavilion Concert Schedule
Summer fun continues at The Pavilion in Fort Steilacoom Park with the city’s Summer Nights at the Pavilion concert series. Join your neighbors next Tuesday, July 2 for Reggae band Pookela.
Concerts run every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 27. (Note: There are no concerts July 16 or 23).
Don’t forget to stop by the Lakewood Farmers Market, happening 2-7 p.m. at Fort Steilacoom Park. Shop the market vendors, grab dinner from one of the many food trucks and then settle in for the concert. Bring your own lawn chairs or blanket.
2024 Summer Nights at the Pavilion concert schedule:
- July 2: Pookela (Reggae)
- July 9: Hair Nation (80’s Rock)
- July 30: Chapter 5 (Funk/R&B/Soul)
- August 6: Catch a Wave (Beach Boys Tribute)
- August 13: Wally & The Beaves (Oldies)
- August 20: ABBAgraphs (ABBA Tribute)
- August 27: Mr. Pink (Dance Hits)
Comprehensive Plan Periodic update
The draft City of Lakewood 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update, associated Development Regulations, and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement are now available for viewing and public comment. Comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement are due by July 3, 2024 at 5 p.m. Email comments to [email protected], please include “DSEIS Public Comment” in the subject.
- View the draft 2024 Comprehensive Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement here.
- View the June 3, 2024 Draft 2024 Comprehensive Plan here.
- View the June 3, 2024 2024 Draft Comprehensive Plan Appendices here.
- View the June 3, 2024 Draft 2024 Development Regulations here.
- View the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Audit/Track Changes Tables here.
Lakewood Farmers Market fun
Have you checked out the Lakewood Farmers Market yet?
Stop by Fort Steilacoom Park Tuesdays, 2-7 p.m. through the summer to see what the market has to offer. The Lakewood Farmers Market hosts farmers, local artisans, wineries, bakeries, fresh cut flowers, artists and more.
The Lakewood Farmers Market 2024 season runs every Tuesday* until Sept. 17. (*There is no market July 16 or 23.)
Council Corner: June 24, 2024 meeting recap
At its study session the Lakewood City Council heard from the city’s Public Works Engineering team about two road projects.
South Tacoma Way Improvement. This project will improve the section of South Tacoma Way from 88th Street SW to the northern city limits with Tacoma. In 2022 the city received a $390,000 grant to pay for the design of this project. With the leadership and perseverance of Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, the city then secured $2.5 million in federal allocations to pay for the project.
Improvements included new curbs, asphalt overlay, storm drainage, street lights, sidewalks and a bike lane. This work will complete the non-motorized corridor of Pacific Highway SW/South Tacoma Way between Gravelly Lake Drive and the City of Tacoma. Once completed, this 4.17-mile corridor will connect to the southernmost section of the City of Tacoma’s Water Flume Trail. This creates a continuous connection between Lakewood, downtown Tacoma and Gig Harbor.
Nyanza Road SW Project. This project completes the Gravelly Lake non-motorized loop. The site was recently surveyed and the project is at 30% conceptual design. Improvements include new pavement, street lighting, storm drainage, curbs and sidewalks.
Watch the meeting.
What’s on deck. The Lakewood City Council will hold a regular meeting on Monday, July 1 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Tentative agenda items include:
- Clover Park School District Report – Bryan Thomas, Board Vice President
- Accepting a sponsorship from Amazon, in the amount of $15,000, in support of SummerFEST
- Authorizing the execution of an agreement with Barcott Construction for the American Lake Park Access Improvement Project
- Authorizing the award of a construction contract to Quigg Brothers, Inc., in the amount of $706,000, for the Lake Steilacoom Bridge Repair Project
- Resolution setting a public hearing on August 5, 2024, to consider the vacation of a portion of 100TH St SW lying west of Dekoven Drive and east of Steilacoom Lake
- Ordinance authorizing the acquisition of real property under threat of condemnation or by condemnation for park purposes related to tax parcel number 5140001191; authorizing payment thereof from the City’s General Fund or from such other monies that the City may have available or attain for the acquisition; providing for severability; and establishing an effective date
- Reports by the City Manager – Review of 1st Quarter (2024) Financial Report and Review of Financing Options
How to attend: Attend in person at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW; Join via Zoom (or dial 253-215-8782 and enter meeting ID: 868 7263 2373), or watch live on the city’s YouTube channel.
Police Chief’s Corner
Each week Lakewood Police Chief Patrick D. Smith shares a summary that includes a look at total calls for service the Lakewood Police Department responded to for the prior week. The intent of the summary is to share a snapshot of how the department works to keep the community safe. To see quarterly statistical analysis, visit the Lakewood Police Department crime statistics page on the city website.
Weekly Summary, June 18-25, 2024
- Calls for Service: 878
- Arrests: 40
- Violent Crime: 31
- Property Crime: 62
- Traffic Stops: 78
- Collisions (reportable): 18
Sign up for Lakewood Alert (Code Red)
The City of Lakewood uses Code Red, an alert service, to notify residents of important information happening in the city.
If there is an emergency that requires public notification, we will use Lakewood Alert as one way to communicate. We will also post information to our website and social media channels.
Subscribers can sign up to receive text and email alerts. People can also sign up for important non-emergency updates including information about road impacts from large events in the city or information about special events.
Find out more and sign up today.
Now Hiring!
Wanted: Building Inspector
Do you have experience performing commercial and residential building inspections, and experience in general construction? Are you a certified ICC Building Inspector with a passion for public service? If so, please check out our Building Inspector job posting and submit your application today!
In addition to this job opening, there are a variety of other positions available to join the City of Lakewood team. Lakewood offers a competitive benefits package. We are part of the state retirement system (PERS). And the city is a beautiful place to work. Find a current list of open positions online.
Road project updates
Farwest Drive, Safe Routes to School
Concrete sidewalk pours were made this week. Formwork for sidewalk and curb pours continue next week. Traffic control continues to take the southbound lane with both north and southbound traffic alternating through the northbound lane as assisted by traffic control personnel.
Hipkins Road
Paving the top lift of the northern segment (Cross Lane to Steilacoom Blvd) was completed this week. Over the next two weeks we will raise utility castings, install signs and mailboxes and complete landscaping. Once work is completed (week of 7/15), the northern section of Hipkins will open and we will close the segment of Hipkins between Cross Lane and 104th in order to start water main replacement there.
Ardmore/Whitman/93rd
The traffic signal bridge estimated shipment date previously scheduled for July 22 has been postponed to August 23. This ships out of Nebraska. The contractor is scheduling time to assemble the bridge once it arrives near the first week of September. Street lights on the wooden poles will be installed that week.
84th and Pine
Work on this project is paused while the contractor waits for the traffic signal to arrive. Estimated arrival timeline is mid-July. Once it arrives work will resume.