Lakewood City Council Adopts 20-Year Plan for Parks, Recreation and Trails | LKW

The community-informed Legacy Plan will guide future investments, priorities, and grant applications. The Lakewood City Council adopted the City’s 2026 Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Legacy Plan at its Nov. 2 meeting.

The Legacy Plan serves as a 20-year strategic guide for creating healthy, sustainable parks and recreation system in Lakewood. It outlines a community-informed vision, along with goals, policies, and action strategies for the City’s parks, recreation programs, open spaces, and trails.

City staff collaborated with residents and BERK Consulting over a year to update the plan. Community outreach and demographic analysis from mid-2025 to March 2026 identified local priorities, service needs, and opportunities. The process included input from residents, City personnel, community partners, and other stakeholders.

A demand and needs assessment guided the plan’s recommended capital projects and management priorities. The City released a draft on Aug. 14 for public review and consideration by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and City Council. The Council reviewed the draft at a Sept. 14 study session, and proposed revisions from the comment period were presented on Oct. 19.

The adopted plan will guide the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department’s future work plans, budget recommendations, capital investments, and grant applications. The Legacy Plan meets the planning requirements of the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and supports the City’s ability to pursue grants.

Implementation will occur through projects and operations authorized in future City budgets, including the 2027-2028 biennial budget.

The plan identifies needs such as improved access to parks within walking distance, more connections between trails and active transportation routes, better access to specialized facilities like waterfront areas and dog parks, increased tree canopy, strong maintenance, and enhanced overall experience for park users.

With the Legacy Plan in place, Lakewood has established a long-term framework to address community needs and strengthen its parks, recreation opportunities, open spaces, and trail system for current and future generations.