Local

Recent upgrades and changes planned for Pierce County’s lakeside parks

Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

This list of stories illustrates notable improvements that Pierce County is making to its lakeside parks. Lakewood launched a pilot project to turn street ends into public lake access, with new features planned for Westlake Avenue on Lake Steilacoom. Near Lake Tapps, increased security aims to manage crowds and boost safety for visitors.

At American Lake Park, the Lakewood City Council approved urgent repairs to the damaged boat launch. At Waughop Lake, the city treated toxic algae with aluminum sulfate and saw a reduction in blooms, though some residents raise concerns about lasting effects.

People unload their boats and other watercraft at the American Lake boat launch in Lakewood, Wash., on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020.

NO. 1: POPULAR PIERCE COUNTY BOAT LAUNCH TO BE FIXED AFTER DAMAGE FORCED ITS CLOSURE

Residents complained to the city that vehicles and trailers had been damaged from using the site before. | Published December 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

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

NO. 2: 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

Lake Tapps on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Bonney Lake, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 3: EXPECT HEIGHTENED SECURITY AT THIS POPULAR PIERCE COUNTY LAKE THIS SUMMER

The company will use fencing and officers from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office to prevent visitors from going on the dikes. | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund

The end of Westlake Avenue Southwest, where the city of Lakewood approved a $86,000 design contract to get better public access to Lake Steilacoom, on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lakewood, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 4: LAKE ACCESS FOR ALL. PIERCE COUNTY CITY TURNS STREET ENDS INTO PUBLIC PARKS

More than a dozen neighborhood dead ends might be transformed into small lakeside parks. | Published May 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Dead fish found in Coffee Creek on Jan. 24, 2025. By Kim Underwood

NO. 5: IS WORK ON A CONTROVERSIAL HOMELESS VILLAGE CAUSING FISH TO DIE NEAR SPANAWAY LAKE?

Neighbors of the under-construction village claim the project is killing “hundreds” of fish. | Published February 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

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.