Local

10 recent developments shaping the city of Lakewood in 2025

Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

This list of stories illustrates how new businesses, changes in the local government, and other developments are reshaping the city of Lakewood.

Recent changes include updates to Wards Lake Park, the planned Lakewood Towne Center Apartments, a new Planet Fitness, and plans for a new McDonald's.

The city is also dealing with the retirement of longtime city manager John Caulfield and police department controversies, such as allegations of officer misconduct and an internal investigation.

Wards Lake Park will be closed starting Jan. 7 the park in Lakewood will be closed until November 2025 for significant park By Brian Hayes

NO. 1: POPULAR PIERCE COUNTY PARK TO BE CLOSED IN 2025 FOR MAJOR UPGRADES, LIKE NEW DOG PARK

The park will be getting new paved trails, an off-leash dog park and new playground this year. | Published January 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Rendering displayed Friday at a public hearing for Lakewood Towne Center Apartments showed one of the planned buildings and surrounding landscaping.

NO. 2: ‘ASPHALT PRAIRIE’ OR NEW APARTMENTS? LAKEWOOD HEARING AIRS PROS, CONS OF TOWNE CENTER SITE

Several spoke out against risk of more polluting storm water runoff while proponents contended the project would improve site. | Published January 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

The McDonald’s restaurant logo and golden arch is lit up, April 20, 2006, in Chicago. On Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, a federal judge in New York dismissed a lawsuit that accused McDonald’s and Wendy’s of misleading consumers with ads that show bigger, juicier burgers than their restaurants actually serve. By Jeff Roberson

NO. 3: A NEW MCDONALD’S IS PLANNED IN LAKEWOOD. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW AND HOW YOU CAN HAVE A SAY

It’s the second of two new McDonald’s proposed in Pierce County in the past few months. | Published February 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

Rendering displayed Friday at a public hearing for Lakewood Towne Center Apartments showed one of the planned buildings and surrounding landscaping.

NO. 4: HERE IS HOW LAKEWOOD TOWNE CENTER APARTMENT PLANS FARED IN HEARING EXAMINER DECISION

Conditions aim to mitigate concerns on traffic, stormwater runoff and more. | Published February 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

Lakewood police officers talk in their cars in front of the Lakewood City Hall Friday, Feb. 17, 2006. (Janet Jensen/The News Tribune

NO. 5: MANAGER OF 2ND-LARGEST PIERCE COUNTY CITY TO RETIRE. NO IMMEDIATE WORD ON REPLACEMENT

The city said he was a critical part of bringing much-needed attention and funding for various projects. | Published February 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

A new Planet Fitness location is set to open, on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Lakewood, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 6: MAJOR FITNESS OUTLET WITH LATE HOURS TO OPEN NEW LOCATION IN THIS PIERCE COUNTY CITY

It replaces a former 24 Hour Fitness. | Published March 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Waughop Lake, on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Lakewood, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 7: ARE CITY EFFORTS TO TREAT TOXIC ALGAE AT THIS PIERCE COUNTY LAKE WORKING? WHAT WE KNOW

For decades agricultural waste and manure was dumped into this lake, which has caused issues for the city today. | Published March 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Lakewood Police Department Assistant Chief John Unfred.

NO. 8: LAKEWOOD POLICE’S SECOND IN COMMAND OUT ON LEAVE PENDING INTERNAL INVESTIGATION

Assistant Chief John Unfred was placed on administrative leave March 19, according to a department spokesperson. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Peter Talbot

Karwan Village, where the city of Lakewood has filed a lawsuit against for being a nuisance property, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Lakewood, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 9: ‘UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION.’ PIERCE COUNTY CITY SUES MOBILE HOME PARK AS NUISANCE

“The Property remains without power or water and continues to be illegally occupied by squatters and transients,” according to the suit. | Published April 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Lakewood Police Department Sergeant Jason Catlett (left) and Lakewood Police Department Detective Noah Dier.

NO. 10: RACIST COMMENTS, JOKES ABOUT SEXUAL IDENTITY NET SUSPENSIONS FOR 2 LAKEWOOD COPS

A sergeant who was president of the union and a detective used racist language and harassed colleagues over their sexual identity, records show. | Published May 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.