Category Overview
Local Parks grants help protect these symbols of vibrant communities, providing places for families to gather and play and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle in an era when people spend increasing amounts of their time inside. The WWRP is the largest source of local parks funding in Washington, helping communities fund the acquisition, development, and renovation of vital recreation areas and green spaces.
Project Highlights
Wards Lake Park acquisition will be conducted in several phases. In this first phase, the City of Lakewood will acquire nearly eight acres. In subsequent phases, Lakewood will develop this property into a grassy picnic area, taking advantage of its waterfront location and a natural grove of oak trees. Beyond that, the City will seek to acquire an additional 12 acres for a total of 20 acres. Much of this property secured in the second round of acquisition will be used for passive purposes. A trail that starts near the picnic area, follows the waterfront southerly, and then loops back though the woods to its original start point. Currently, the nearest park in the City is two miles away. Tacoma has a park about 1.5 miles away, but I-5 serves as a physical barrier. This park would also help preserve open space in the northeastern area of the City where it is now in jeopardy. The legal description of the property to be acquired is described in Exhibit A, which is by this reference incorporated into the Project Agreement.