Popular Pierce County waterfront park unveils new upgrades, playground
After nearly a year of construction, popular American Lake Park in Lakewood has reopened with new improvements, including a new restroom, playground and landscaping.
Over the weekend the city unveiled a new accessible path from the upper parking lot at 9222 Veterans Dr. SW to the shore of American Lake. The city also replaced the restroom and deteriorated retaining walls. Other improvements include a new group picnic shelter, entrance plaza, play equipment, landscaping, beach improvements and swim-safety upgrades, according to city spokesperson Brynn Grimley.
Although only five acres in size, American Lake Park is one of the city’s most-used in the summer due to limited public access to lakes, something Lakewood is seeking to improve with its street-end project. There is a public boat launch and swimming beach at American Lake Park.
Grimley said Monday the city did a “soft” opening of the beach area on July 4, anticipating people would want to go there for that weekend. The rest of the park officially opened Friday.
“The new grass needed to get established before we could allow foot traffic, so we kept the upper section of the park closed while the grass took root,” she said via email.
Grimley said Monday construction began on the American lake Park improvements in September 2024. The project cost about $4.2 million, she said. That includes about $2.4 million of city funds, $572,000 from Real Estate Excise Taxes, $500,000 from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, $500,000 from the state Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account, $253,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce and $75,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Grimley said.
Beachgoers can now access the lake from the grassy area and path, rather than following a temporary gate by the boat launch, the city said.
“Parking is available in the main lot and the overflow lot across the street. Boat trailer parking remains available in the lot that feeds into the boat launch,” said the city in a press release Aug. 1. “On busy days when parking is full, visitors are asked to park in legal parking spots on surrounding residential streets. Please do not block mailboxes, driveways or park in front of ‘no parking’ signs. Cars that block traffic or are parked illegally will be towed.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the park is planned for mid-September, according to Lakewood.
This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
