City of Lakewood Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting Tomorrow!
Celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas Parade of Lights at the Lakewood Towne Center on tomorrow! Visitors get to view holiday floats constructed by local businesses, clubs, and organizations. Enjoy both outdoor and indoor activities at City Hall. This event is completely free. Here is the schedule:
4:00 p.m. Free crafts, face painting, carols, food trucks, and entertainment at City Hall
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Parade
5:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m. Santa photos and gifts.
5:30 p.m. Tree lighting at City Hall
View the parade route and more information on the event webpage: https://cityoflakewood.us/holiday-parade/
American Lake Park Boat Launch closure
The American Lake Park Boat Launch parking gate will close starting Monday 12/8 for maintenance and will remain closed to the public through project completion. The park itself will remain open.
For alternative public boat access to American Lake, please enter through Camp Murray Boat Launch in the Tillicum Neighborhood. A discover pass or daily pass is required for use of this facility.
Joint City Council Meeting with State Legislators
The City Council met with the State Legislators that represent Lakewood’s 28th and 29th legislative district on Tuesday night. Senator T’wina Nobles (28th), Representative Mari Leavitt (28th), Representative Dan Bronoske (28th) and Representative Melanie Morgan (29th) joined the City Council to discuss the City’s state legislative priorities for 2026, which include public defense funding and H-Barn silos preservation funding. Read about the City’s full state legislative priorities here. Watch the full meeting below.
Take our Parks Legacy Plan Survey
We want to hear your thoughts on Lakewood parks! The city is updating its Parks Legacy Plan and we want to know what you think of our parks and would like to see in the future. Visit the Legacy Plan webpage to stay up to date or attend an outreach event. Your voice will help shape the future of Lakewood’s open spaces, parks, and recreation programming.
Jingle Bell Fun Run December 13
Join us for another year of the Jingle Bell Fun Run with Lakes Cross Country! This year’s run will be at Ft. Steilacoom Park on December 13. The 1-mile fun run will start at 9:30 a.m. with the 5k beginning at 10.
Pre-registration: $10 for 12 & under | $30 everyone else
Day of: $15 for 12 & under | $35 everyone else
Register here: https://www.active.com/lakewood-wa/running/distance-running-races/fort-steilacoom-jingle-bell-run-2025-107481624
Council Corner
City Council met on Monday Dec. 1st for a Regular Meeting. Watch below. Agenda items included:
- Swearing-In Ceremony for Judge Tim Lewis
- Larry Saunders Service Award Winners (Deputy Mayor Mary Moss, Ben Sclair from the Suburban Times)
What’s on Deck. The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, Dec. 8 for a Study Session at 7 p.m. Tentative agenda items include:
- Review of performance metrics related to permit review and timelines (SB5290)
- Review of Automatic Traffic Safety Camera Program
- Prosecution Services Update
How to attend: Attend in person at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW. Attend virtually via Zoom(or dial 253-215-8782 and enter meeting ID: 868 7263 2373), or watch live on the city’s YouTube channel.
Community Events
Community Resource Fair at Tillicum Woodbrook Community Center (14916 Washington Ave SW, Lakewood): Wednesday December 10th, 12pm-3pm
Police Chief’s Corner
Each week Lakewood Police Chief Patrick D. Smith shares a summary of total calls for service for the prior week. The intent of the summary is to show 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 Calls for Service Nov. 18 – Nov. 25
- Calls for Service: 836 (0% from prior week)
- Arrests: 26 (-35% from prior week)
- Violent Crime: 24 (-23% from prior week)
- Property Crime: 48 (-2% from prior week)
- Traffic Stops: 83 (-11% from prior week)
- Collisions (reportable): 18 (-10% from prior week)
Weekly Calls for Service Nov. 25 – Dec. 2
- Calls for Service: 836 (0% from prior week)
- Arrests: 25 (-4% from prior week)
- Violent Crime: 16 (-36% from prior week)
- Property Crime: 43 (-14% from prior week)
- Traffic Stops: 122 (+47% from prior week)
- Collisions (reportable): 17 (-6% from prior week)
Attend a Neighborhood Association meeting in 2025
Neighborhood associations play a crucial role in fostering community engagement and improving the quality of life in local neighborhoods. Through its Neighborhood Connections program, the City of Lakewood aims to not only better connect the community, but also help residents better understand city processes.
There are currently six Neighborhood Associations in Lakewood. Five meet regularly. The meeting times and locations are listed below. All residents are invited and encouraged to attend an upcoming meeting for their respective neighborhood. Find out more about the Neighborhood Connections Program online.
Meetings:
- Downtown Neighborhood Association
- Meeting Dates: Dec. 10
- Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Interim Lakewood Library, 10202 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW
- Fort Steilacoom Neighborhood Association
- Meeting Dates: None in December
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Location: The Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park, 9107 Angle Lane SW
- Lake City Neighborhood Association
- Meets: Second Thursday of every month
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Location: Lake City West Pierce Fire & Rescue Station, 8517 Washington Blvd
- Tillicum/Woodbrook Neighborhood Association
- Meets: Second Tuesday of each month
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Location: Tillicum-American Lake Gardens Community Center, 14916 Washington Ave SW, or Manic Meatballs,14815 Union Ave SW
- Contact: [email protected]
- Springbrook Community Meetings
- Meets: Third Thursday of each month
- Time: 4:30 p.m.
- Location: Springbrook Park
- North Lakewood Neighborhood Association
- Meets: No meetings scheduled
- Contact: [email protected]
Road project updates
Steilacoom Boulevard Weller to 87th Ave: Storm water drainage issues have been remediated at the intersection of Hipkins and Steilacoom Blvd. The contractor has temporarily patch back the removed portion of sidewalk both east and west of Hipkins with hot mix asphalt and will place permanent concrete sidewalks when they return to complete the rest of the concrete flatwork sitewide. Private utility crews continue working to perform all communication line transfers and will remove the old utility poles throughout the project site. Once the utility poles have been removed, the City’s contractor will return to resume work on concrete flatwork (weather pending).
South Tacoma Way & 92nd signal replacement: Other than minor work, this project is in suspension while waiting for signal system components to be delivered.
South Tacoma Way – 88th to north city limits: This contract is currently on suspension pending the final signal turn on at 84th and South Tacoma Way. The turn on has tentatively been scheduled for early January to accommodate Pierce County’s schedule and the delivery of the final equipment needed for the system.
Nyanza Rd Improvements: New storm drainage system components are actively being installed throughout the project site. Crews have completed a significant portion of grading necessary to accommodate the placement of new concrete curb & gutter throughout the project site. Concrete crews are expected to begin prepping for curb next week. North and southbound travel is closed to thru traffic on Nyanza between the north and south connections at Gravelly Lake Drive; drivers are advised to follow the detour signs. Traffic is unable to travel onto Gravelly Lake Drive from Nyanza on the north end. East/west traffic on Gravelly Lake Drive at the north end of Nyanza is alternating directions via temporary traffic control devices.
Interlaaken/112th/Idlewild: The City’s contractor began placing concrete sidewalks on Idlewild this week. Crews completed the placement of a new cast-in-place concrete wall on the south side of 112th ahead of grading activities for new concrete sidewalk at that location. Grading work has started behind the new curb to prepare for placement of the new concrete sidewalks. Eastbound 112th is closed to traffic between Idlewild and Interlaaken. Southbound traffic on Idlewild Rd is provided for Idlewild Elementary traffic ONLY and is completely closed south of the school’s driveway to 112th; Northbound traffic is open at 112th and past the school on Idlewild.
Pierce County Bridgeport Way sewer repair: The full sewer bypass is up and running along Bridgeport Way West and Meadow Park Road West in Lakewood and University Place. It will remain in place until repairs are completed. With the bypass in place and cleaning underway, we will soon be able to provide a more detailed timeline based on the extent of the preparation work required.
Sewer pipe repair began the week of November 10. The repair involves lining the existing pipe. Crews are expected to begin lining the section of pipe under Bridgeport Way West on Thursday, November 20.
For more information about the project, visit www.PierceCountyWa.gov/BridgeportRepair
What You Can Expect:
- The speed limit is reduced to 20 mph through the work area. Drivers should expect delays.
- Additional lane closures are required on Bridgeport Way West between Flanegan Road West and Meadow Park Road West beginning Nov. 20.
- One lane of traffic will be open in each direction through this area.
- These lane closures will be in place 24/7 through mid-December.
- Further lane closures will be necessary after this phase is completed.
Please plan for brief delays or consider taking an alternate route, if possible. For more information about the sewer repair project, visit www.PierceCountyWa.gov/BridgeportRepair
Park project updates
Legacy Plan Update 2026: Survey out now. Go take it an encourage your community to share more about parks and programming in Lakewood. Survey linked here: Parks and Recreation Survey – Six Year Comprehensive Park Plan 2026 Visit the Legacy Plan page on the city’s website to find more updates: Lakewood Parks Legacy Plan If you have any questions, please reach Daví de la Cruz, Parks Capital Project Manager at [email protected].
Edgewater Park Development: Park development is underway as of early August, following the successful award of several grants supporting the project. Improvements will include a new boat launch, Portland Loo restroom, swimming beach, fishing pier, landscape and habitat improvements, and ROW & trail development supporting accessible use. The project will be developed over the next couple of years following construction design development, engineering and permit approval. Anticipated construction will occur summer through fall of 2027. The project is currently in design development.
Nisqually Trail partnership project: This project will build stops along an approximately one-mile trail within Fort Steilacoom Park to highlight the Nisqually Tribe’s past, present and future and their connection to the prairie lands at the park. The installation of several interpretive elements of this project will occur this winter. Installation of tile artwork on the existing kiosks featuring Nisqually basket weaving and camas has just been completed, and the remaining project elements are anticipated to go out to bid this winter.
Harry Todd Improvements: Pickleball courts and parking lot maintenance are complete, keep an eye out for a spring event to celebrate the completion of this work.
Park Sign Replacement: New signs are complete!
Primley Park Playground Replacement: The new playground is open to the public, additional ADA parking stall and pathway are under design and permitting and coming soon.
Westlake Ave Street End Pilot Project: Permitting and design are underway with the goal of starting construction in late spring 2026. Vehicles blocking access or found driving into these undeveloped rights-of-way will be reported for removal.
Oakbrook Park Improvements: Design and permitting for a shelter and perimeter pathway are underway. We anticipate construction to start early 2026.
Wards Lake Park: Construction of this park is anticipated to be completed at the end of this month. Remaining site work including landscaping, and metal fabrication and installation will be completed over the next couple of weeks. Art wraps for the Loo and signal boxes on the corner of Pine and 84th are underway. An art wrap on the Portland Loo featuring native birds was installed this week. The park is anticipated to reopen in early December. Stay tuned for updates via social media on all of the improvements that have occurred.
