Lakewood Weekly Manager’s Bulletin: March 7, 2025

Nisqually Tribe Chief Leschi Honor Walk

The City of Lakewood was honored to partner with the Nisqually Indian Tribe for its 2025 Leschi Honor Walk, held Feb. 28 inside Fort Steilacoom Park.

The walk traveled the Nisqually Loop Trail, which will soon have interpretive sign markers installed to share the history of the land. The trail will speak to the importance of this area to the tribe and the indigenous people who used the prairie before settlers arrived.

Before walking, Mayor Jason Whalen welcomed tribal leaders and elders. They then spoke about Chief Leschi, his legacy and how he was wrongfully hung not far away from the park. They also spoke to the strength of the Nisqually People, their descendants and the importance of never forgetting the role the prairie lands played in the lives of Indigenous peoples who once roamed the land that now comprises part of Fort Steilacoom Park.

Later this year work will begin on the Nisqually Loop Trail project. The city is working closely with the tribe on this project to install several interpretive exhibits along the 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 or early fall.

We’ll be at Lake Steilacoom Saturday, come find us!

The city’s Parks and Recreation Community Advisory Board is hosting a public meeting this Saturday (March 8) at the end of Westlake Avenue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to talk to neighbors about developing the street end into a public access point for Lake Steilacoom.

This is an opportunity to share thoughts on the city’s plans to increase public access to the lake. Look for the City of Lakewood pop up tent on site for the meeting. All residents are invited to attend and share their thoughts.

Unable to make it? Or want to learn more about the city’s plans to develop its street ends into access points to public lakes? Email Capital Projects Manager David de la Cruz.

Thank you, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland

On Feb. 28, 2025 Mayor Jason Whalen, Deputy Mayor Mary Moss and members of the Lakewood City Council gathered with Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland on South Tacoma Way near the B & I shopping center.

They were also joined by local business and property owner Jae Han, and Lakewood Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Linda Smith.

The group was there to celebrate the soon-to-start construction project on South Tacoma Way that will bring significant roadway upgrades to the city’s northern commercial corridor.

Congresswoman Strickland was instrumental in securing $2.5 million in federal funding to help pay for this project that will complete the sidewalk connection down both sides of South Tacoma Way from the city’s northern boundary with Tacoma to 88th Street.

Read more.

Proposed state legislation could negatively impact cities trying to respond to homelessness

A bill currently before the Washington legislature would negatively impact cities like Lakewood, which is trying to strike a balance between helping people in need and keeping public spaces safe and accessible for everyone.

As proposed, House Bill 1380 would require that any municipal or county laws regulating “the acts of sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property that is open to the public” do so in a way that is “objectively reasonable as to time, place, and manner.”

While the intent of the bill is to provide rights and protections for vulnerable people within our region, there are unintended consequences that could be costly to taxpayers.

If the city were to request a person to leave a public space where they have created a shelter or encampment, the person could take legal action against the city and claim the city is trying to enforce its laws in a way that is not “objectively reasonable.”

Without clear definition of what is “reasonable” according to law, cities are left to decide whether to enforce a law and risk the possibility of costly legal challenge or allow people to continue to live outside in public spaces with negative impacts on the environment and overall community wellbeing.

Read more.

Lakewood receives certificate for excellence in financial reporting

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded the City of Lakewood with its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its budget.

“This recognition and award highlights our organization’s commitment and dedication to excellence in budgeting, transparency, and financial stewardship,” said Lakewood City Manager John Caulfield. “And this does not happen without the leadership of Deputy City Manager Tho Kraus and the hard work of the city’s Finance Department team.”

The award represents a significant achievement. It reflects a commitment to meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

Read more.

Pierce County to begin emergency sewer repair work

Pierce County Planning & Public Works is working on a sewer bypass installation on and around Bridgeport Way West and Meadow Park Road West. The bypass will remain in place until the emergency sewer repair is completed.  

For more information about the project, please visit www.PierceCountyWa.gov/BridgeportRepair. From this page you can sign up to receive email updates from Pierce County about its project.

Hidden Heroes: Tanikka Watford

Tanikka Watford is an accomplished leader in affordable housing and community development, with a heart for fostering social change. 

Watford is Executive Director of The Moore Wright Group, a nonprofit that operates in several states. The nonprofit uses its logistic expertise to help end the cycle of poverty, abuse and abandonment, and provides hope to those in need. Through her leadership at TMWG, Watford has impacted over 1.8 million families, distributing $27 million in goods annually, and created long-lasting community transformations. 

In partnership with Lakewood and Pierce County non-profit organizations, such as Make a Difference Foundation and Believing in Myself Again (BIMA) Services, Watford’s work includes developing housing, construction projects, and building essential services that strengthen communities like the City of Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Read more.

The goal of Hidden Heroes is to raise the visibility of Black and African American leaders in our community. Learn more about these heroes by following the city’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Or use this link to sign up using the form at the bottom of the page.

Spring recreation classes start Monday!

Our Spring Recreation class line up is out and registration is open! Now’s your chance to sign up for things like Tai Chi (Beginner and Intermediate levels available), Qigong, Cardio Drumming, or check out our weekly Yoga class schedule. There’s also a new March Meditations class happening every Sunday in March – and it’s free!

All classes are held indoors at the Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park, 9107 Angle Lane SW.

The following Yoga 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: March 3 recap

Proclamation recognizing Red Cross Month. The Lakewood City Council read a proclamation declaring March as Red Cross Month. The proclamation recognizes the contributions of local Red Cross volunteers who give hope to the most vulnerable in their darkest hours. Read the proclamation.

The City Council acted on the following:

• Authorized the execution of an interlocal agreement with the Lakewood Water District for the water utility to install a watermain as part of the city’s capital improvement project on Interlaaken Drive between Washington Boulevard and 112^th Street.
• Authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with KBH Construction in the amount of $286,370 for the installation of new park signs across the city and approve a contingency amount of $11,130 for approved change orders specifically related to this project.
• Authorized a professional services agreement with GMP Consultants to lead the city’s recruitment and hiring process for a new City Manager to replace retiring City Manager John J. Caulfield.

Watch the meeting.

What’s on Deck. The Lakewood City Council meets March 10, 2025 at 7 p.m. for a study session in Council Chambers.Tentative agenda items include:

• Continuum of Care update
• Review of 4^th Quarter (2024) police calls for service and 2024 Annual Police Report
• Nyanza Road Improvement Project 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.

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.

Weekly summary Feb. 25-March 4, 2025

• Calls for Service: 904 (down 4% from prior week)
• Arrests: 66 (up 2% from prior week)
• Violent Crime: 16 (down 30% from prior week)
• Property Crime: 60 (down 23% from prior week)
• Traffic Stops: 193 (up 25% from prior week)
• Collisions (reportable): 18 (down 22% 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.

Attend a Neighborhood Association meeting

• Fort Steilacoom Neighborhood Association
  • Meets: The third Tuesday of the month
  • Location: The Pavilion in Fort Steilacoom Park, 9107 Angle Lane SW
• Springbrook Community Meetings
  • Meets: The third Thursday of the month
  • Location: Springbrook Connections, 5105 Solberg Dr SW #A
• Tillicum/Woodbrook Neighborhood Association
  • Meets: The second Tuesday of the month.
  • Location: Tillicum-American Lake Gardens Community Center, 14916 Washington Ave SW.
• Downtown Neighborhood Association
  • Meets: Meets the second Wednesday of the month.
  • 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
• North Lakewood Neighborhood Association
  • No meetings scheduled.

Community events 

Lakewood Community Foundation Fund accepting applications

The Lakewood Community Foundation Fund is now accepting applications for grants from the 501c3 organizations located in Lakewood. Total grant funds available for award is approximately $40,000. Applications are due April 11, 2025.

All grants will fulfill the fund’s ideals, as expressed in the Mission and Vision statements: 

• Mission: To improve the lives of people in the Lakewood community by encouraging the generosity of donors and by accepting and distributing resources through a permanent endowment.
• Vision: Connecting donors with worthy causes to benefit the Lakewood community.

Applications are available 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. 

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 87^th Ave: Thursday an electrical subcontractor of the city’s contractor struck a water main when doing work on the city’s project. Lakewood Water District was on site and shut off the water main quickly. The broken pipe caused the roadway to begin to buckle due to the pressure from the break. This left a 3 inch void beneath the road surface. The city’s contractor removed the ballooned roadway immediately following the repair of the water line. They kept workers on site to repair the roadway. That work was completed around 10 p.m. Thursday. Paving crews were paving the road by 7:30 a.m. Friday. The road reopened to traffic later in the morning once the road surfaced cooled and was safe for vehicle traffic. With the road section repaired, the contractor resumed work on the project, installing new storm system components. Concrete is expected to start being placed the week of March 10.

Rose Road Sanitary Sewer Project: Work started this week on Rose Road.Segments of Rose, Forest, and Fern will be closed for work. This closure/work will be in place through June 2025.

South Tacoma Way Overlay 96^th to Steilacoom Blvd.: Miles Resources began its work. This work will be largely completed over a two-week period with minor lane closures during the day. The grinding/paving will be completed over the period of a week in April/May with striping also taking a few nights. A new traffic signal will be installed in late fall.

South Tacoma Way & 92^nd signal replacement: Work is underway.

South Tacoma Way  88^th to north city limits: Work is expected to start late March or early April. Lakewood Water District is currently in this vicinity installing a new water main ahead of the city’s capital improvement project; their work is anticipated to occur Monday to Saturday until they are done with their project in mid-March.

Bridgeport Way from 75^th to north city limits: Pierce County Sewer has an emergency repair starting of its interceptor line along Bridgeport Way through the entire city limits and into University Place. For more information visit Pierce County’s website.

Parks project updates

American Lake Park: Construction of the retaining walls is anticipated to be completed by mid-March. Sewer work will begin in preparation for the restroom installation in April. All work is anticipated to be complete by June.  

Wards Lake Park Improvements: Site clearing of invasive species plants continues and the pedestrian bridges are refinished. Work on the mountain bike track has progressed with most of the trails cleared and graded. The 35-acre park will remain closed through November 2025 while the city’s contractor makes major upgrades to this park.

Westlake Avenue Street End Pilot project: The Parks and Recreation Community Advisory Board is hosting a public meeting March 8 at the end of Westlake Avenue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to talk to neighbors about developing the street end into a public access point for Lake Steilacoom. This is an opportunity to share thoughts on the city’s plans to increase public access to the lake. Look for the City of Lakewood pop up tent on site for the meeting.

Chambers Creek Trail. The city partnered with Pierce County and University Place on a project to improve access along Chambers Creek between the City of Lakewood and University Place. Pierce County recently completed the construction of a boardwalk. Pierce County Trails is working on the soft surface portion of this trail. The first section of the trail will open to the public in spring 2025, with the remaining two sections of trail opening throughout the spring and summer as trail crews complete work. The public should expect trail closures during this work.Please be aware of trail signage and stay on the open trails.

Other park projects planned for 2025:

• Primley Park playground replacement: A community workday was postponed due to delays in delivery of the new playground equipment.Stay tuned for a new date.
• Oakbrook Park: A new picnic shelter is on order and design is ongoing for a trail inside the park perimeter that will be installed before the busy summer season.    
• New park signs: The City Council approved a contract with KBH Construction to complete the park sign replacement throughout the city.The signs should be 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. 
• Harry Todd pickleball courts: The bid process is currently open. Sealed bids will be accepted until March 18. Then a lowest bidder identified and contract awarded. Four new pickleball courts will be developed at Harry Todd Park this year. 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.
• Tenzler Log/The BIG One: Landscaping and fencing will surround the perimeter in the coming months. Additional signage and information will be added to share more about this BIG piece of history.
• Reader board: A new electronic reader board is planned for the corner of Gravelly Lake Drive and Motor Avenue. A request for bids is expected to go out in the coming weeks.
• Lakewood Legacy Plan: The city is updating its Legacy Plan detailing improvements for parks for the next six years. Information will be shared about how to provide input and outreach events to hear from residents.
• Camp Murray Boat Launch Master Planning: The city will be assembling a stakeholder group to shape the early master plan for improvements at the Camp Murray Boat Launch in the Tillicum neighborhood.