Lake Stevens closes 12th Street for trail work

The City of Lake Stevens is closing a section of 12th Street Southeast between 87th Avenue Southeast and 89th Avenue Southeast starting today.

The closure runs through November 13, 2026. Public Works crews will remove the existing sidewalk and install a 10-foot multi-use path. This new segment links the current Bayview Trail at West Lake Park to the next construction phase. That phase extends the paved trail from 12th Street Southeast to 8th Street Southeast.

Pedestrians can still access the area during the work. Drivers need to find alternate routes. Residents can call Public Works at 425-622-9403 with questions about the project.

City officials also announced a phased opening for Frontier Heights Park on October 13. Residents can now use the new pickleball courts, athletic fields, and workout equipment. Landscaping and a sensory garden will finish in Spring 2027. The city plans a grand reopening celebration once those projects are complete.

The Lake Stevens Police Department is hiring officers to fill current vacancies. The city offers an expedited process for entry level, entry level advanced, and lateral candidates. Lateral officers can earn a hiring bonus of up to $25,000 plus $5,000 for moving expenses. The department is also seeking volunteers for the Planning, Salary, and Civil Service Commissions, as well as the Park Board.

In other local updates, Mayor Kurt Hilt will host a coffee chat at the Starbucks on Soper Hill on November 5. The event runs from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Residents can bring questions about city issues. A workshop on harvesting live stakes for the Lower Stevens Creek Restoration Project is scheduled for November 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The City Council adopted Ordinance 1223 on October 13. This ordinance amends the city’s Critical Areas Ordinance. The changes include new critical aquifer recharge area regulations and expanded stream buffers. The updated rules take effect on January 1, 2027. Projects designed under the current rules can still submit applications to vest to the old regulations.