LaceyLife – May 2023

JOIN US FOR TWO DAYS OF FREE, FAMILY FUN! LACEY SPRING FUN FAIR: SATURDAY, MAY 20 & SUNDAY, MAY 2

Since 1988, Lacey Spring Fun Fair has provided thousands of people a weekend of FREE activities and entertainment including rides, games, live music and performances, community booths, a car show (Sunday), and more! Attendees can also purchase food, arts and crafts, and other merchandise from on-site vendors.

Now celebrating its 35th year, this is an event you definitely don’t want to miss! For more details, including entertainment schedule, vendor list, special attractions, free shuttle details, and more, visit LaceyParks.org/FunFair.

The Lacey Spring Fair at ST. Martins College on Sunday, May 22, 2022.

LACEY POLICE DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTS BODY-WORN CAMERA PROGRAM

The Lacey Police Department (LPD) continually strives to meet the needs of our community and enforce laws in a uniform and fair manner to preserve and maintain the safety of all. On April 3, the LPD implemented a body-worn camera program to increase transparency and enhance the service they provide to our community. Body-worn cameras are an important tool in capturing interactions our officers have with community members.

Later this year, the LPD plans to add in-car video capabilities to complement the body-worn camera program. Cameras will be placed in their patrol vehicles to capture additional views of interactions between the LPD and
community members.

To learn more about the LPD, visit CityOfLacey.org/Police.

ODD-EVEN WATERING SCHEDULE BEGINS JUNE 1

From June to September, the average daily water usage of all Lacey water customers more than doubles — from about 6 million gallons in the winter to 13 million gallons in the summer (see graph on left). Rather than add costly infrastructure to meet the big increase in demand for only four months a year, in 2006, the City adopted the odd-even watering practice to reduce peak water demand during the summer. This helps manage demand and keeps costs down.

Prior to starting the odd-even watering practice, Lacey’s summer peak water demand was 17 million gallons a day. In 2022, the peak demand was reduced to15 million gallons a day — a considerable decrease even though the number of Lacey water customers increased.

You can apply for a temporary exemption or variance if you planted a new lawn (sod or seed) or landscape area, or have an irrigation system that waters areas on both sides of the street at the same time. To apply, contact Water Resources at (360) 438-2687 or WaterResources@ci.lacey.wa.us.For more information about the mandatory summer watering schedule, effective June 1 to September 30, call (360) 491-5600, visit CityofLacey.org/Odd-Even-Outdoor-Watering-Schedules.

The City does not limit the amount of water you can use. However, if we all take turns, we can deliver enough water with our existing system and our community can avoid building additional water infrastructure needed for only 1/3 of the year.

For example, a new well would cost about $2 million. To pay for this new well, water rate increases would be necessary.

PARKSPLORATION: CIVIC PLAZA

Civic Plaza is a small, urban greenspace and serves as one of Lacey’s community entrances. It includes a landscaped flag plaza, an armed forces monument, and a Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker the local Friendly Flower Garden Club presented to the City that was installed in 2020. In addition, in March the Plaza became home to the Lacey Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. The Monument preserves the memory of fallen service members of the United States Military Armed Forces and honors their families.

The Washington State Dept of Transportation owns the site and the City has maintained it as a park since 1979. The Lacey Civic Committee, a local residents group, donated materials and labor to construct the plaza.

The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument honors the families and relatives of service members of the United States Military Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives. We honor and celebrate the 65+ service members with ties to Thurston County, and those nationwide, who made the ultimate sacrifice for ensuring our freedoms during conflicts, such as World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraqi Wars, War in Afghanistan, and others. The Lacey Monument is the 4th of its kind in Washington state and the 120th nationwide. It is located in the Plaza along Sleater-Kinney Road SE as indicated by the yellow box on the Civic Plaza photo above.

The Gold Star Memorial Foundation of Lacey invites community members to purchase a personalized, engraved brick or sponsor a Hero Memorial Brick to be permanently placed at the base of the monument. To find out more, visit GoldStarMemorialFoundationLacey.com.

Discover Other Lacey Parks
Lacey parks are free and open to all! Find your favorite at LaceyParks.org.

GET EMAIL UPDATES ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Construction season is here! Stay informed about what’s happening during a road construction project by signing up for email updates on all, or specific, projects by visiting CityofLacey.org/Email-Notifications.