New year brings new opportunities
Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, the City of Lakewood extends its heartfelt gratitude for the contributions of all our residents, business owners and community partners that make our city a vibrant and welcoming place to live.
In 2025 we look forward to accomplishing the ambitious goals we laid out that will continue to improve the lives of all who live and work in Lakewood.
We hope the new year is filled with opportunities, progress and shared success. We wish you and your loved one’s health, happiness and prosperity in the year ahead.
Wards Lake Park will close Jan. 7, 2025
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 Wards Lake Park closes to the public. It will remain closed through November 2025.
The closure is in preparation of major improvements planned for the park.
The Lakewood City Council approved a $3.2 million contract authorizing Redside Construction to complete the first two phases of planned improvements.
Once complete, the improvements will make significant changes to the park located off 84th Street SW near the northeastern city limits. Planned upgrades include:
- ADA accessible loop trail with a 170-foot-long bridge over the lake.
- Ten-foot-wide paved trials and gravel paths throughout the site.
- A new playground and picnic shelter.
- A pump bike track.
- 3-acre bike track and skills area.
- New restroom facility.
- Prairie restoration and a bird blind overlooking the lake.
- Public art and landscape improvements near the entry.
- Parking lot expansion.
- New off-leash dog park.
- New neighborhood park and playground at 25th Ave Ct South.
- Landscape improvements.
During construction the public is asked to please stay out of the park and obey all closure signs. This is for public safety and the safety of construction workers in the park.
MLK Beloved Community Welcome Walk is Jan. 11
Join members of the Lakewood MLK Committee on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 from 12-3 p.m. for the City of Lakewood’s annual MLK celebration.
This year we’re returning to an in-person event to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This event combines the city’s annual Welcome Walk with its recognition of King.
Head to Fort Steilacoom Park on Saturday for fellowship and fun. There will be welcome guides to show people where to go when they arrive. Walks are planned throughout the event around the one-mile paved Waughop Lake trail in the park. Along the lake path various traits of a Beloved Community will be shared, prompting people to think about how they can incorporate these traits into their everyday lives.
The event will include an opportunity for people to connect with friends and meet new people.
Participants will enjoy live music from DJ Super Dave, vendors and food trucks. There will be giveaways of mugs, tote bags, bookmarks and more.
Artist Reception: Jan. 13, 2025
Continue the celebration on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 from 5-7 p.m. at Lakewood City Hall for an in-person Artist Reception featuring local artist Rodney King. King’s work will be on display, and he will be there to answer questions and share about his work.
There will also be live Jazz from saxophonist Maureese Itson, a spoken word performance by Shaidaja Wilson-Dunham, refreshments and more.
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.
- Lake City Neighborhood Association
- Meets: Jan. 9, 2025 at 7 p.m.
- Location: Lake City West Pierce Fire & Rescue Station, 8517 Washington Blvd
- Tillicum/Woodbrook Neighborhood Association
- Meets: Jan. 14, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
- Location: Tillicum-American Lake Gardens Community Center, 14916 Washington Ave SW.
- Springbrook Community Meetings
- Meets: Jan. 16, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.
- Location: Springbrook Connections, 5105 Solberg Dr SW #A
- Fort Steilacoom Neighborhood Association
- Meets: Jan. 21, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
- Location: The Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park, 9107 Angle Lane SW (meeting location will change in March)
- Downtown Neighborhood Association
- Meets: Feb. 12, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Interim Lakewood Library, 10202 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW
- North Lakewood Neighborhood Association
- No meetings scheduled.
Lakewood PD Trust disburses final donations
Fifteen years ago a trust was created to manage $3 million in monetary donations that poured in from across the country after four Lakewood police officers were killed on Nov. 29, 2009.
Much of the money came in small increments, often accompanied by a note from a stranger expressing condolences and a request that the money be used to support the families of the fallen officers.
After discussion with the families a trust fund was established to make the money available to the nine children who lost their parents. The money would be used to help them with life expenses as they grew up. Once the youngest child turned 18, the trust would dissolve.
That milestone was reached in 2024. The last of the money was distributed in December and the board that oversees the trust dissolved it in accordance with its original establishment 15 years ago.
From the board:
“As a board, we have had the honor and responsibility of disseminating those funds in accordance with the intent of the trust. Throughout the last 15 years the generosity of the donors has allowed us to pay for educational, medical, and general life expenses for all nine children which might otherwise have been a burden to their parents. Without a doubt, each of the children would have gladly traded this financial support for the return of their fallen parent, but many of life’s other burdens were eased thanks to this money. With this knowledge, we all wish to say ‘Thank You’ for the overwhelming support that was given so many years ago. Without question, the positive impact of that support is still being felt today.”
Founding members of the board included:
- Former Lakewood City Councilmember Helen McGovern-Pilant
- Former LPD Chief Larry Saunders
- Former LPD Chief Bret Farrar
- LPD Sgt. Charles Porche
- LPD Reserve officer Dale Thomas
Additional trust fund board members who joined in subsequent years as people retired or passed away included:
- Former Lakewood City Council Mayor Doug Richardson
- Former Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz
- Former LPD Chief Mike Zaro
The board received assistance from Christopher Kimball Financial Services in Lakewood.
Council Corner: What’s on Deck
The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 at 7 p.m. for a regular meeting in Council Chambers. Tentative agenda items include:
- Proclamation declaring January 20, 2025 as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
- Partners for Parks Presentation
- Youth Council Report
- Clover Park School District Report
- Authorizing the award of a construction contract to Miles Resources, LLC, in the amount of $613,245, for the South Tacoma Way and 92nd Street S Traffic Signal Project
- Confirming Stephanie Marshall as the City of Lakewood Hearing Examiner Pro Tem
- Authorizing the execution of an amendment to the interlocal agreement with Pierce Transit for police services
- Accepting a $99,000 donation from Partners for Parks to support replacement of the dog park fence at Fort Steilacoom Park
- Ordinance sunsetting the Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board
- Resolution amending the City Council Rules of Procedure
- Reports by the City Manager: Review of 3rd Quarter (2024) Financial Report
What’s on deck. The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 at 7 p.m. for a study session in Council Chambers. Tentative agenda items include:
- Presentation of the draft Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategic Plan
- Review of operation and maintenance agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation for the I-5 Gravelly – Thorne Connector Shared Use Path
- Review of the 2025 citizens advisory board, committee and commission work plans
- Review of City Council liaisons to citizens’ advisory boards, committees and commissions, City Council representation on external committees and boards and City Council Proclamation calendar
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 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.
Two weeks’ worth of call summaries are shared because they were not available for the last two weeks due to the holidays.
Week of Dec. 17-24, 2024
- Calls for Service: 981 (down 5% from prior week)
- Arrests: 63 (up 70% from prior week)
- Violent Crime: 30 (up 25% from prior week)
- Property Crime: 75 (up 29% from prior week)
- Traffic Stops: 118 (down 31% from prior week)
- Collisions (reportable): 34 (down 8% from prior week)
Week of Dec. 24-31, 2024
- Calls for Service: 810 (down 17% from prior week)
- Arrests: 37 (down 41% from prior week)
- Violent Crime: 22 (down 27% from prior week)
- Property Crime: 44 (down 41% from prior week)
- Traffic Stops: 92 (down 22% from prior week)
- Collisions (reportable): 27 (down 21% from prior week)
Community events
Call to Poets: Submit Your Poem for Lakewold Gardens’ Winter Garden Poetry
Lakewold Gardens is seeking original, unpublished poems for inclusion in the 2025 Winter Poetry in the Gardens event. Poems should be no longer than approximately 1,000 words or no more than five minutes in duration when read aloud, preferably with a theme related to gardens and/or the celebration of nature.
Participants must be Washington State residents and be available to record their poems and have headshot photos taken onsite at Lakewold Gardens the week of Feb. 10, 2025. Poets of all backgrounds and ages are invited to participate. Lakewold Gardens strives to promote contributions from communities that have been traditionally underrepresented. Poets who identify with or are part of these communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Selected participants will be celebrated at a special event on February 22, 2025 where they will be invited to read their poems aloud. Only one entry per poet will be accepted. Entries must be submitted before Jan. 17, 2025. Learn more.
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.
Road project updates
Lakewood Station Access Project: Sound Transit is investing nearly $70 million in road improvements in and around the Lakewood Sounder Station to improve roads in the Lakeview and Springbrook neighborhoods. Recent survey work added one-foot squares of white paint on certain roads. Construction is not anticipated to begin until the fall of 2025.
84th and Pine: Final items to complete are installation of luminaires on the traffic signal poles and signage corrections.
Farwest Drive SW: Once Puget Sound Energy brings power to the lights and the state Department of Transportation signs off on its final inspection the project is complete.
Rose Road Sanitary Sewer Project: Work is anticipated to start early 2025.
Steilacoom Boulevard Weller to 87th Ave: Active Construction, Inc. is expected to start construction in early 2025.
South Tacoma Way Overlay 96th to Steilacoom Blvd.: Miles Resources is expected to start work in early spring 2025.
South Tacoma Way & 92nd signal replacement: A contract is expected to go to the Lakewood City Council in January for approval. Work is expected to begin in early 2025.
Parks project updates
Each week updates will be shared highlighting the work being done to improve our parks for public use.
American Lake Park: Construction began in September with the replacement of the bulkhead and new retaining walls. Work will continue through winter with the upcoming installation of new restroom, plaza, ADA ramp to the beach, shelter and play equipment upgrades. Work is expected to be complete by early summer.
Wards Lake Park Improvements: The park closes to the public Jan. 7, 2025 through November 2025 for construction. Planned improvements include:
- ADA accessible loop trail with a 170-foot-long bridge over the lake.
- Ten-foot-wide paved trials and gravel paths throughout the site.
- A new playground and picnic shelter.
- A pump bike track.
- New restroom facility.
- Prairie restoration and a bird blind overlooking the lake.
- Public art and landscape improvements near the entry.
- Parking lot expansion.
- New off-leash dog park.
- 3-acre bike track and skills area.
- New neighborhood park and playground at 25th Ave Ct South.
- Landscape improvements.
The Big One: Relocation of the Tenzler Log: Construction of a shelter around the log is nearing completion. The log will be refinished to protect and seal the monument, and a wire mesh installation will be installed this month to protect the round it in its new home at Fort Steilacoom Park. Work is expected to be complete by late January, weather permitting.