We’re prepared for snow
Did you hear? We might see some snow by the weekend or early next week. Our road crews are ready to respond.
If we see significant snow, or if the roads get icy, our operations team is ready to keep the main arterials clear and apply necessary treatments to the roadways. The map shows our routes and how we prioritize our response.
If the snowfall becomes significant (more than 1-2 inches, which is not predicted) we will share any necessary updates to the city’s social media channels.
For those considering whether to drive, remember to slow down, drive for conditions, increase our following distance and only travel if absolutely necessary.
Pierce County plans road work on Bridgeport Way in Lakewood
This week Pierce County’s Planning and Public Works Department announced it anticipates short-term road impacts to Bridgeport Way West near the city’s border with University Place.
Pierce County’s contractor will be checking the depth of existing utilities on Bridgeport Way West and Meadow Park Road West. To do this, there will be intermittent, short-term lane reductions. The work is expected to last the full week.
This work is necessary for the county as it prepares to complete a sewer bypass installation. The project will impact all of Bridgeport way from its intersection with Interstate 5 through Lakewood and into University Place to wastewater treatment facility.
More information about the start of that project and associated road impacts will be shared by Pierce County once the plans are finalized.
This is not a City of Lakewood project. The city is working closely with Pierce County to make sure access remains during construction for businesses and neighborhoods located off Bridgeport Way.
Hidden Heroes campaign launches Feb. 3
The city’s Hidden Heroes campaign kicks off Feb. 3 and runs for six weeks. Each week a “hero” from the Black and African American community will be featured.
The kick-off includes a special presentation of a proclamation at the Lakewood City Council’s Feb. 3 regular meeting. The proclamation declares February as Black History Month.
The goal of Hidden Heroes is to raise the visibility of Black and African American leaders in our community. The focus is on celebrating their accomplishments and bringing to light lesser-known individuals who have made a big impact either on their local community, in their profession, or on the global scale.
Learn more about these heroes by reading about them on the City of Lakewood’s website or by following the city’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Want to receive the information in an email? Click this link to sign up using the form at the bottom of the page.
You can also send an email to Lakewood Communications Manager Brynn Grimley, [email protected] with “Hidden Heroes” in the subject line.
By signing up you agree to receive emails from the City of Lakewood related to the Hidden Heroes campaign.
Registration now open for recreation programming
Registration is open for the City of Lakewood’s latest round of wellness programming.
Available classes include Gentle Yoga, Fusion Yoga, a six-week Cardio Drumming course and a new, four-week Kirtan Chanting class.
Classes are offered at the indoor Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park, 9107 Angle Lane SW. Unable to commit to a full session? The following classes allow drop-ins for $12 per class:
- Gentle Yoga, Mondays, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
- Gentle Yoga, Thursdays, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
- Fusion Yoga, Thursdays, 6-7 p.m.
Find class descriptions, registration links and more information about drop-ins online.
Council Corner: What’s on deck?
The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 at 7 p.m. for a regular meeting in Council Chambers. Tentative agenda items include:
- Proclamation recognizing February, 2025 as Black History month
- Recognition of Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board members
- Youth Council Report
- Clover Park School District Report
- Authorizing the execution of an agreement with D.P. Excavation, in the amount of $357,825, for the demolition of dangerous and nuisance structures at 9230-9330 Bridgeport Way SW
- Ordinance granting Ezee Fiber, a non-exclusive franchise for the transmission of telecommunications in, through, over, and under the rights-of-way of the City of Lakewood.
- Resolution authorizing the agreement for tax exemption regarding Residential Target Area Development for 11409 Kendrick LLC.
- Resolution amending the 2025 Docket of Comprehensive Plan Land Use, Zoning Map and Policy Amendments
- Resolution amending the City Council Rules of Procedure
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.
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.
The call summary for the week of Jan. 21-28, 2025 will be shared in next week’s bulletin along with the call summary for Jan. 28-Feb. 4, 2025.
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.
- Downtown Neighborhood Association
- Meets: Feb. 12, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Interim Lakewood Library, 10202 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW
- Lake City Neighborhood Association
- Meets: Every other month. Next meeting is March 13, 2025 at 7 p.m.
- Location: West Pierce Fire & Rescue station, 8517 Washington Blvd. SW
- Tillicum/Woodbrook Neighborhood Association
- Meets: The second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
- Location: Tillicum-American Lake Gardens Community Center, 14916 Washington Ave SW.
- Springbrook Community Meetings
- Meets: The third Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m.
- Location: Springbrook Connections, 5105 Solberg Dr SW #A
- Fort Steilacoom Neighborhood Association
- Meets: The third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
- Location: The Pavilion in Fort Steilacoom Park, 9107 Angle Lane SW
- North Lakewood Neighborhood Association
- No meetings scheduled.
Community events
Valentines for Veterans
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland kicked off her annual Valentines for Veterans and First Responders drive this week. Through this program valentines will be distributed to veterans and first responders in Washington’s 10th Congressional District, and for the first time, Valentines will be distributed to JBLM soldiers deployed to Korea.
Residents can leave cards at a drop box in Lakewood City Hall at the box located at the front desk. Lakewood City Hall is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other locations accepting valentines include the city halls of Lacey, Olympia, Puyallup and Yelm.
Lakewood Playhouse offers winter camps and classes
Lakewood Playhouse recently released a winter class schedule that offers a range of options for youth, young adults and adults. Find the full class listing online.
Lakewood Playhouse presents “The Laramie Project”
In honoring the memory and legacy of Matthew Shepard, this production of “The Laramie Project” strives to inspire the community to see themselves in the citizens of Laramie and reflect on their own reaction to recent attacks on the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, locally and nationally. With a cast composed of local actors, this production will bring a whole new perspective on the work by putting community at the center of the storytelling and offering space for conversation and reflection. What can we learn about ourselves by examining the words and actions of another community?
The show runs Feb. 21-March 9, 2025, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. The “pay what you can” and industry night is Sunday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Call the Box Office at (253) 588-0042 or visit www.lakewoodplayhouse.org to book tickets online.
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
Steilacoom Boulevard Weller to 87th Ave: Traffic control devices/signage are up through the work zone. The city’s contractor Active Construction, Inc. continues with grinding and other demolition activities on the north side of Steilacoom Blvd. The traffic signal at Steilacoom Blvd and Briggs has been decommissioned and only right turns are permitted north-south at Briggs (east-west traffic continues through). Work is expected to begin daily by 7:30 a.m. Lane closures will remain in place throughout the duration of the project. Work is expected to conclude by this fall.
84th and Pine: The luminaires on the traffic signal poles and some signage corrections are the remaining items. Tacoma Public Utilities has given final approval to mount the lights; the contractor is working to coordinate the installations.
Rose Road Sanitary Sewer Project: Work is anticipated to start early March.
South Tacoma Way Overlay 96th to Steilacoom Blvd.: Miles Resources is expected to start work in March.
South Tacoma Way & 92nd signal replacement: Work is expected to begin in March.
South Tacoma Way 88th to north city limits: The Lakewood City Council awarded a contract to RL Alia for this project. Work is expected to start late March or early April. Before the City of Lakewood’s work begins the Lakewood Water District will rip up the road to install a new watermain.
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. Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall.
Parks project updates
American Lake Park: Construction continues with significant progress on the new retaining walls along the beach and boat launch parking lot as well as the new shelter. Completion is anticipated by June.
Wards Lake Park Improvements: The 35-acre park is closed and will remain closed through November 2025.
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 complete. The log was refinished to protect and seal the monument, and a wire mesh is installed to protect the round it in its new home at Fort Steilacoom Park. We expect the blue tarp to be removed soon.
Other park projects planned for 2025:
Primley Park playground replacement: The City is planning a community work day to help install the surfacing for the playground in March. A save the date notice with details about that effort will be shared with neighbors to gain volunteers.
Oakbrook Park: A new picnic shelter is on order and design is ongoing for a trail inside the park permitter that will be installed before the busy summer season.
New park signs: Park signs will be replaced this year with updated designs. Expect the signs in place by summer.
Historic H-Barn revitalization: Grants and community funding continues to come in to support the preservation of the H-barn at Fort Steilacoom Park. Local nonprofit Partners for Parks is working to raise $3.5 million to match a $4 million commitment from the city. Design work will start in early spring to determine building and code needs, as well as cost estimates.
Street End pilot project: The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will host a community meeting in early March to look at how to create a new public open space at the Westlake Ave Street End on Lake Steilacoom.
Harry Todd pickleball courts: Four new pickleball courts will be developed at Harry Todd Park this year. The city has submitted permits for this work. The courts should be available for public use by fall 2025.
Nisqually Loop Trail Fort Steilacoom Park: In partnership with the Nisqually Tribe the city will install several interpretive exhibits along the Nisqually Loop Trail in the southeast area of the park. The exhibits will be located along a 1-mile trail and include Nisqually art, educational information and Lushootseed language. Construction is anticipated to occur late summer-fall of 2025.