Long Lake Park features one of the finest swimming beaches in Thurston County, as well as sand volleyball and picnic tables. The 285 feet of beach frontage stands in contrast to the ten heavily-wooded acres that provide an evergreen entrance to the park site. The upland area has picnic facilities and pedestrian trails through the woods.
Long Lake Park Open for Swimming
- Updates will continue to be posted on this website.
Lifeguards are no longer on duty for the 2019 swim season.
Long Lake is monitored and tested for blue-green algae by the Thurston County Department of Environmental Health. Prior to swimming, please visit the Thurston County Department of Environmental Health website for information and current advisories.
Park History In 1983, ten acres of land were acquired on the shore of Long Lake by reimbursing Thurston County $41,000, the amount of matching funds for a Washington State Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation grant. In 1983, the City of Lacey also acquired the first right of refusal on the adjacent Thurston County Fairgrounds property, as well as adjacent private property. Phase 1 of the park was developed later that year at a cost of $45,000, and included grading of the beachfront, small storage building, swim docks and log boom to designate the swimming area. In 1988, Phase 2 construction included paved parking, sand volleyball courts and a building/concession stand at a cost of $83,600. The concession stand burned down a few years later and was never rebuilt. In 2005, Long Lake Park was redeveloped with a restroom, STEP sewage line, water, power, and paved parking using $260,000 of 2002 voter approved Open Space Bond funds and $35,000 of City of Lacey funds for a total of $295,000.
Safety Changes In 2019, due to concerns about the safety of Long Lake Park’s swimming area, a professional, aquatic-safety consultant was hired to assess the beach, dock, and swimming area. Based on the consultant’s recommendations, an additional security camera was installed, the dock was removed along with underwater safety hazards. (i.e. logs; cement blocks; and large, tangled bunches of geotextile fabric) due to risk of:
The second phase of the consultant’s assessment will include a Conceptual Site Plan for possible future park improvements and amenities.
Park Rules Please help ensure a positive experience for all park visitors and wildlife by observing Long Lake Park's beachfront rules and general city park regulations.