Parks planner outlines proposed Lacey Metropolitan Park District, 45-cent levy cap

Jenny Wilson, senior parks planner for the City of Lacey, told the Lacey Library Board on June 12 that registered voters within Lacey city limits will see a ballot measure in August asking whether to create a Metropolitan Park District (MPD) to provide ongoing funding to maintain, operate and improve parks, trails and recreation facilities.

Wilson said the ballot would authorize a tax rate of up to 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, and that the city estimates the levy would generate about $5.9 million a year. She told the board the MPD boundary would be the Lacey city limits and that the Lacey City Council would serve as the MPD board if voters approve the measure.

Wilson said the city’s intent in placing the measure on the ballot is to “supplement, not replace existing parks and recreation funds.” She explained the MPD is a junior property-taxing district authorized by state law and described it as a way to create a dedicated, ongoing revenue stream for projects and maintenance that can take many years to complete.

The presentation listed potential capital and maintenance projects that could be funded by the MPD, including further development of the large Brightcullio Park site (the current phase covers about 149 acres of a roughly 537-acre site), an expanded Virgil S. Clarkson Senior Center, amenities at Brooks Park, expanded lake access and spray-park features at Long Lake Park and other lakeshore sites, upgrades at Walters Park on Hicks Lake, additional pickleball courts and a spray park at Rainier Vista Park, and added sports fields and other amenities at Meridian Park. Wilson also noted replacement and maintenance needs at the Regional Athletic Complex playgrounds, Hohman Park picnic area, Lake Pointe Park courts and trails at Wonderwood Park, and that several playgrounds will reach replacement age in coming years.

Wilson said the city gathered roughly 8,700 comments during outreach for the 2023 parks, culture and recreation comprehensive plan and related surveys. In 2024 the council formed a 15-person ad hoc advisory committee to study stable funding options; that committee recommended creating a metropolitan park district and recommended the 45-cent levy rate.

Board members asked how the levy amount would be set and how new facilities would be maintained. Wilson said the ballot language shows a maximum rate of up to 45 cents and that, if voters approve the MPD, the MPD board would later set specific rates within that limit. On maintenance, she said MPD funds could pay for expanded, ongoing maintenance of new facilities and gave spray parks as an example of a feature that requires heavier upkeep.

When asked how spray parks would use water given summer water restrictions, Wilson said the likely design would use recirculated water held and filtered in a holding tank, similar to a pool, rather than an open, one-pass system.

Wilson reminded attendees that state law prohibits use of public facilities to promote or oppose a ballot measure and that her presentation was intended to be factual and neutral. She directed board members to the city’s informational materials and said she and other staff are available for community presentations.

If approved by voters, the MPD would be governed by the Lacey City Council and used to fund capital projects, acquisition, maintenance and operations within the city limits. The city estimates a homeowner with $500,000 in assessed value would pay about $225 a year under a full 45-cent levy (about $18.75 a month), based on current assessed valuations.

Next steps conveyed in the presentation: the measure will appear on the August ballot for registered voters within Lacey city limits; if passed, the city council would adopt the MPD budget and set levy rates within the authorized cap.