Parks Improvement Funding Workgroup

Lacey City Council formed the Parks Improvement Funding Workgroup (Workgroup) in 2024 through resolutions 1148 and 1156.  The purpose of the Workgroup was to:

• Review parks expansion and replacement projects identified in the six-year Parks Capital Improvement Program (PCIP)
• Analyze all available funding options
• Recommend to the Lacey City Council a funding package identifying funding sources, including recommended amounts
• Implement a prioritized list of parks capital projects.

Fifteen community members with diverse backgrounds and experience were selected to participate in the Workgroup, including one youth member and nine voting members.

The Workgroup met approximately twice per month from August – December 2024 to review and learn about the following topics;

• Challenges of operating, maintaining, and developing a parks system
• Community priorities and needs as identified in the Lacey Parks, Culture and Recreation (LPCR) Comprehensive Plan
• Projects on the PCIP
• Various funding options that could maintain the parks system

The Workgroup provided their final recommendation to the City Council at the December 17, 2024 Worksession. There are several components in the Workgroup’s recommendation, the most notable being that the City should consider forming a Metropolitan Park District (MPD). More information about the prospect of an MPD is available here.

Meeting Information