Lakewood studies $3.2 million plan to host collegiate summer baseball club at Fort Steilacoom

Lakewood city staff and representatives of a Southwest Washington baseball franchise presented a proposed facility-use agreement on June 15 that would bring a West Coast collegiate summer team to Fort Steilacoom Park and fund new stadium-style improvements.

Parks staff described a two-phase capital program estimated at about $3.2 million to add temporary seating and concessions in an initial season and then permanent restrooms, additional seating and other site work in a later phase. The franchise’s representatives said the club would stage roughly 35 to 40 home events between Memorial Day and late August and aim to seat about 1,200–1,300 fans per game.

"We're looking at that in two different phases," Miss Miles, the presenting staff member, told council, describing Phase 1 as seating and concessions to open by next summer and Phase 2 as longer-term permanent facilities. The project is contingent on ELTAC (lodging-tax) capital funding; staff said the lodging-tax committee is scheduled to consider an application July 27.

Franchise manager Tony Bonacci characterized the club as a summer, collegiate-level organization that helps bridge college players to professional opportunities. "We view ourselves as filling in the baseball infrastructure in Pierce County along with Pierce College," he said, adding the model includes youth camps and community nights that the franchise said would involve local players and volunteers.

Council members pressed for details on storage, parking, advertising and operational constraints. Staff said mobile concession containers would likely remain on-site during the season and be removed or relocated afterward; temporary fencing inside the park would control in-field access during events and could be removed for community use at other times. Pierce College retains scheduling priority September–May; Lakewood city priority runs June–August, and staff said the parties are negotiating specific windows and preemption rules for playoff or special events.

Several council members raised neighborhood concerns about late-night hours and public-address noise. Presenters said typical game times would start in the early evening and generally finish within three hours, with cleanup concluding by about 11 p.m. on occasions when teams depart the next day. Staff said insurance and indemnity language will be reviewed by the city’s risk pool (WCIA) and incorporated in the draft agreement returned to council.

Miss Miles said the goal is to return a completed facility-use agreement for council consideration in early July so the city can meet ELTAC funding timelines. The council did not vote on the proposal at the study session; staff will return with a draft agreement, insurance language and a capital funding plan for formal action.

Next steps: staff will provide a draft facility-use agreement for council review and submit an ELTAC funding request to the lodging-tax committee; council action on the agreement and capital appropriation is required before work would begin.