Saturday Street Festival season is here
We’ll be dancing in the streets THIS Saturday from 4-8 p.m. at the plaza on Motor Ave. (6114 Motor Avenue).
Bring the family, meet up with friends and get ready for an evening of fun. There will be a live DJ, food trucks, kid’s activities and games, roaming entertainment, vendor booths and more.
Support Lakewood kids: Lemonade Day
Quench your thirst this Saturday by visiting lemonade stands around the city for Lemonade Day.
Organized by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, Lemonade Day is a national program aimed at teaching children how to start, own and operate a business through a fun, experiential learning program.
Leading up to Lemonade Day, participants set a goal, made a business plan, worked on that plan to achieve their goal and are now putting that hard work into action by selling their products.
There are 10 stands registered for Lakewood. View a map of their location and, if you’re in the neighborhood, make sure to stop by and support these budding entrepreneurs.
Lakewood Farmers Market opening day
We hope to see you Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at Fort Steilacoom Park for the Lakewood Farmers Market opening day.
Listen to live music from Maurese Itson Jazz from 2-4 p.m., and In Cameo Band from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Get your face painted, have the kids make a potato print painting, play lawn games, and don’t forget to swing by the city of Lakewood booth to pick up a free Lakewood Farmers Market tote, slap bracelets, stickers and more.
Visit Fort Steilacoom Park every Tuesday from 2 to 7 p.m. and shop more than 70 vendor and food booths. See a full list of vendors online.
Fort Steilacoom Park temporary entrance
When you come to the market on opening day you’ll need to take a new route. Due to road improvements in the area, park visitors must follow a detour route from Hipkins Road to North Way and then Elwood Drive to enter the park through a temporary entrance off Elwood Drive.
Detour signs will direct traffic. Drivers are encouraged to drive slow through this residential neighborhood, obey signs and pay attention to road changes.
What is that strange van doing?
In the coming weeks Lakewood residents may notice a van with camera equipment driving throughout the city. The van is cruising up and down the city’s streets to gather data and information about the status of the pavement and its condition.
The information will be used by the city’s Public Works Engineering Department as it manages the city’s long-term pavement maintenance program. If you encounter the truck, please give it plenty of space and be patient. The vehicle will drive the speed limit, and may make multiple passes across roads to gather data.
Youth Council: Now accepting applications
Do you know a Lakewood student who is interested in civics? Or someone who wants to learn more about government, how it works and how to get more involved in their community?
Tell them to apply for the Lakewood Youth Council! The Lakewood City Council is accepting applications for appointment to this youth advisory board for the 2023-24 school year.
Qualifications for becoming a Youth Council member are any combination equivalent to:
- Entering high school student in good academic standing, including a good attendance record, past leadership experience, and/or involvement in school or community organizations.
- Attend a school in Lakewood or reside in Lakewood.
Find the application online and learn more about the Youth Council. Applications are due by June 17, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Questions? Contact City Clerk Briana Schumacher at [email protected] or 253-983-7705.
Take our survey by June 11, enter to win a gift card
The City of Lakewood is seeking community perspectives on housing and climate change. This information will be used to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan in 2024, an important document that sets a 20-year vision for the City.
Will you share your thoughts by completing the short survey? It includes a chance to win a $50 gift card. The survey closes Sunday, June 11.
Council Corner: May 31, 2023 meeting recap
Special meeting. The Lakewood City Council held a special meeting Wednesday, May 31 to review and make determinations on the remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds it received from the federal government as part of the national pandemic response.
Council allocated money to the following programs/projects:
- $2,500 to the 9th & 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum for its 2023 Labor Day Festival Event.
- $100,000 to the Development of a Master Plan for improvements at the Camp Murray Boat Launch.
- $340,000 for the establishment and administration of a City of Lakewood Urban Forestry Program through December 31, 2026.
- $724,221 to the improvements at Edgewater Park and creation of a Downtown Park.
If any of these funds or other allocations are not used by Dec. 1, 2026, Council determined they can be used for previously approved ARPA projects or the city administration costs tied to the planned improvements at Edgewater Park and creation of a Downtown Park.
Watch the meeting
The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, June 5 for a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tentative agenda items include:
- Proclamation recognizing Juneteenth
- Proclamation recognizing the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride month
- Youth Council Report and recognition
- Clover Park School District report
- Accepting a $5,000 sponsorship from Amazon for the city’s Summer Nights at the Pavilion concert series.
- Authorizing $2,500 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the 9th & 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum 2023 Labor Day Festival.
- Authorizing an agreement for the 2023 Waughop Lake Alum Treatment project.
- Authorizing an agreement for the Opioid Abatement Council (OAC) formation for Pierce County.
- Authorizing agreements with Western State Hospital for community partnerships and police protection.
- Approving the continued investigation and evaluation of the Clover Creek Floodplain.
- Appointing Dean Burke to serve on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
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.
Lakewood to begin review of state housing laws
As part of the 2023 Comprehensive Plan amendment cycle, the city of Lakewood is responding to recent changes in state law around housing. New laws require the addition of emergency housing, emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing in cities across the state.
This change requires the addition of nearly 600 units to Lakewood in the coming years.
The Lakewood City Council will begin its review of the proposed changes at its June 12 study session. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW.
A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 20 at 7 p.m. at Council’s regular meeting. Public comments may be sent in advance or offered live in person or through Zoom during the meeting.
For more information, email Tiffany Speir, Long Range & Strategic Planning manager, at [email protected].
Work for the city of Lakewood
We’re hiring! Looking to change careers? Looking for a new job? Ready to re-enter the job market?
Join the city of Lakewood! From maintenance workers, Information and Technology analysts, to financial analysts and police officers, we have a variety of positions open. 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
Washington Boulevard
This week progress was made on finishing concrete pours. This includes the roundabout at the intersection of Alameda and Washington and the majority of concrete along Washington Boulevard between Alameda and Lake City Boulevard.
The city’s contractor is testing the new water main. Connections to existing water mains and to homes will be completed next week.
We know this has been a lengthy project that has disrupted the area and we appreciate everyone’s patience as the work is done.
Steilacoom Boulevard
The city’s contractor is expected to install the mast arms of the new signals Wednesday and Thursday, June 7 and 8. This work is expected to further impact traffic. Drivers should use alternate routes when possible, or plan for additional drive times.
Lane closures remain in place at 88th Street SW and Steilacoom Boulevard SW.
Elwood Drive/Angle Lane
Underground work to install a new water main, electrical wiring and storm drainage is nearly complete. The city’s contractor continues to work on grading the roadway. Curbs are expected to be installed the week of June 12.
The contractor remains on schedule. The roads will reopen by July 15 for SummerFEST.
As part of this work a temporary new entrance to Fort Steilacoom Park was built off Elwood Drive. Cars must access the new entrance from Hipkins/North Way/Elwood. There is no access from 87th Avenue/Dresden Lane.
We apologize for the inconvenience. We appreciate the public’s patience during this temporary detour while we make the roads leading into the park safer for pedestrians and drivers.
This project will add sidewalks to the southwest side of Angle Lane, and the west side of Elwood Drive. The chicanes are being removed and a roundabout added at the Elwood/Dresden/87th intersection.
Construction is anticipated to last until early spring of 2024. During construction, the road will be open to single lane of one-way traffic.