Partners for Parks raises $2 million for H-Barn project
Partners for Parks announced last week it received a $350,000 capital grant from the Norcliffe Foundation to help with planned restoration of the H-Barn at Fort Steilacoom Park.
With this donation the nonprofit has raised more than $2 million for the project through one-time and multi-year pledges.
Partners for Parks is leading the private-sector effort to raise $3.5 million toward the overall estimated $7.5 million restoration project cost. Once the organization reaches $3.5 million, the City of Lakewood has committed to investing $4 million in the project.
The proposed restoration of the barn will result in its transformation into a meeting and events space at Fort Steilacoom Park. To learn more about the H-Barn restoration project, attend future events, consider an investment, or get more involved, visit the Partners For Parks website.
See you Saturday? Jazz Night & Car Show kicks off 4 p.m.
Join us Saturday at Colonial Plaza for a Jazz Night & Car Show Saturday, June 1 from 4-7 p.m.
This family-friendly event is free. Enjoy live music with TPC Jazz from 4-5 p.m., followed by Michael Powers from 5:30-7 p.m. There will be food trucks, vendors, community partner booths, roaming entertainment, kids’ activities and of course classic cars!
Trophies including “Special Choice” and “Best of Show” will be given, along with Mayor’s Choice, Police Chief’s Choice and Fire Chief’s Choice. Have a vehicle you want to enter? Day-of registration is encouraged.
Lakewood again recognized as ‘Triple Crown’ Winner
The City of Lakewood was recently announced a “Triple Crown” recipient from the Government Finance Officers Association. Only four other Washington jurisdictions earned this prestigious national recognition.
A total of 356 municipalities were awarded Triple Crown status for their 2022 financial reporting.
The designation recognizes cities that received the organization’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Popular Annual Financial Award and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. Participation in this program is above and beyond what is required in each of these areas.
Is there a burn ban in Lakewood?
The Pierce County Fire Marshall announced a county-wide burn ban goes into effect June 1. The ban is in effect for unincorporated areas of Pierce County.
So what does this mean for Lakewood residents? The county-wide ban does not impact Lakewood, however there is always a ban on burning yard debris, using burn barrels and other outside burning within city limits.
Visit the West Pierce Fire & Rescue Outdoor Burning page to see what is and is not allowed within city limits.
Residents can still use firepits and recreational fires that are contained in a firepit. If we see hot and dry weather conditions again this summer, a more restrictive burn ban may be implemented. If that happens, West Pierce Fire & Rescue may also enact a more restrictive ban to limit the likelihood of fire in our area.
Lakewood Farmers Market opening day is Tuesday
The Lakewood Farmers Market returns Tuesday, June 4 and runs every Tuesday from 2-7 p.m. at Fort Steilacoom Park.
Stop by on opening day to check out this year’s vendors, grab a bite to eat from one of the many food options, enjoy live music and stop by the City of Lakewood booth to get free City of Lakewood SWAG.
New this year the market will host Pop Up Markets. These events highlight specific themes and vendors. This includes:
- June 11: Veteran-owned businesses
- June 18: Wellness/Sports-focused businesses
- June 25: Minority-owned businesses
- July 2: New businesses (opened in the last 18 months)
- July 30: Women-owned businesses
- Aug. 6: Kids’ Day at the Market (children up to age 16 can sell items at the market)
- Aug. 13: Maker Fair (inventors, creators, educators, hobbyists are encouraged to inspire people with skill-building tutorials, hands-on projects, experiments and show and tell)
- Aug. 20: South Sound First Nation organizations (tribal affiliations)
- Aug. 27: Local artists
The Lakewood Farmers Market 2024 season runs every Tuesday* from June 4 to Sept. 17. (*There is no market July 16 or 23.)
City of Lakewood Youth Council Vacancies
The City of Lakewood is accepting applications from youth interested in participating in the Lakewood Youth Council for the 2024-2025 school year. To apply, visit the city’s Youth Council webpage. Applications will be accepted until Friday, June 14, 2024.
Students are eligible if they are a high school student, or entering high school, in good academic standing and have a good attendance record. Past experience and/or involvement in school or community organizations is desired. Eligible students must attend a school in Lakewood or live in Lakewood. The Lakewood Youth Council meets the first and third Mondays of every month at 4:45 p.m. Students must be able to regularly attend these meetings and participate in other meetings and events as scheduled.
Questions? Email Shannon Bennett [email protected].
Draft Comprehensive Plan now available
Want to know the plans for the city’s future development and growth? Check out the draft 2024 Comprehensive Plan document.
Want to better understand what is proposed? The Lakewood Planning Commission will continue its review the plan in June and ultimately make a recommendation to the Lakewood City Council for action later this year.
The proposed meeting schedule to review the plan at the Planning Commission and Lakewood City Council levels is:
Planning Commission:
- June 5, 6:30 p.m.: Public hearing
- June 12, 6:30 p.m.: Public hearing continued
- June 26, 6:30 p.m.: Discussion
- July 10, 6:30 p.m.: Action
City Council:
- July 22, 7 p.m.: Intro
- Aug. 5, 7 p.m.: Intro continued
- Aug. 19, 7 p.m.: Public hearing
- Aug. 26, 7 p.m.: Discussion (if needed)
- Sept. 9, 7 p.m.: Discussion (if needed)
- Sept. 16, 7 p.m.: Action
Council Corner: May 28, 2024 meeting recap
At its meeting Monday the Lakewood City Council reviewed its goals for the 2025-2026 biennium that came out of a goal-setting workshop held in March 2024.
Once adopted by the City Council, the goals will serve as the policy direction for developing and implementing the proposed 2025-2026 Biennial Budget. The goals will also help guide decision-making at all levels of city government.
The four proposed goals are:
- Development of a downtown park and multi-generational community center
- Public safety
- Implementation of the Edgewater Park Master Plan
- Revitalization for sustainable growth in the Downtown and Lakewood Station District subareas
The City Council is expected to formally adopt its goals at a future meeting.
Watch the meeting.
What’s on deck. The Lakewood City Council will hold a regular meeting Monday, June 3 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Tentative agenda items include:
- Proclamation recognizing Juneteenth National Freedom Day
- Proclamation recognizing the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride month
- Proclamation recognizing the month of June as Ride Transit month
- Presentation of 2024 Washington Recreation and Parks Association (WRPA) Spotlight Award for the Development and Renovation of Springbrook Park
- Youth Council Report and Recognition
- Clover Park School District Report
- Authorizing the award of a construction contract to Sierra Santa Fe Corporation, in the amount of $272,777, for the 2024 Chip Seal Program.
- Releasing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in the amount of $1,000,000 to Living Access Support Alliance (LASA) per Motion 2023-15; in the amount of $250,000 to Emergency Food Network per Motion 2022-101; and to approve the re-obligation of $25,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to conduct a locally-initiated amendment of the Lakewood Shoreline Master Program in 2024.
- Authorizing the execution of an amendment to the agreement with Pacific Point Defense (Horwath Law) for public defense services.
- Granting Rainier Connect North, LLC, DBA Lightcurve, a non-exclusive franchise for the transmission of Cable Access TV services.
- Granting Rainier Connect North, LLC, DBA Lightcurve, a non-exclusive franchise for the transmission of telecommunications in, through, over and under the rights-of-way of the City of Lakewood.
- Resolution approving the Six-Year (2025-2030) Transportation Improvement Program.
- Approving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) subaward to Facet, in the amount of $150,000, to conduct a Lakewood tree inventory.
- Reports by the City Manager: Interlaaken Bridge Repair Update
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.
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 share 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, May 21-28, 2024
- Calls for Service: 876
- Arrests: 42
- Violent Crime: 32
- Property Crime: 69
- Traffic Stops: 61
- Collisions (reportable): 15
Save the date: Juneteenth Celebration
In partnership with St. Joseph-St. John Episcopal Church, the City of Lakewood is supporting the organization’s Juneteenth Celebration by opening Lakewood City Hall for an afternoon of community celebration.
The event is Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 3-5 p.m. All are invited to attend and learn about Juneteenth and hear from local leaders. There will be speeches, performances, tables with information from community partners and a chance to come together and celebrate this significant date in our nation’s history.
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.
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! We have a variety of positions open across multiple departments. 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
Ardmore/Whitman/93rd
Remaining work includes the installation of street luminaires (expected installation early- to mid-June) and the installation of the traffic signal (anticipated for late-July or early-August).
Hipkins Road
Sidewalk and driveway placement continued this week on the north end of Hipkins from North Way to Steilacoom. Crews began pouring concrete from North Way towards 104th Street this week. That work continues into next week. The road remains open during construction to local traffic with no upcoming changes as work progresses the next several weeks. Pavement is expected to be placed from Angle Lane to Steilacoom Blvd at the end of June.
Washington Boulevard
The contractor is finalizing the schedule for the last items related to the water system.
84th and Pine
Work on this project is paused while the contractor waits for the traffic signal to arrive. Estimated arrival timeline is mid-July. Once it arrives work will resume.
Farwest Drive, Safe Routes to School
The city’s contractor, Ceccanti, began work this week on Farwest Drive. This included preparing the area for construction by beginning demolition activities. Survey crews will be out surveying and staking the site. Traffic continues to move in both directions of Farwest Drive with the assistance of traffic control personnel and devices. Drivers are encouraged to give themselves extra time and drive slow through the area when construction teams are on site.