Lacey's Largest Park Just Opened: Welcome to Greg Cuoio Park

Lacey just opened the largest park in the city. Greg Cuoio Park, at 2711 Carpenter Rd NE, is now open to the public, and it's a genuine regional asset.

The full park and surrounding greenways span roughly 537 acres of dense forest, wetlands, tributaries, and sensitive habitat. What opened now is Phase 1A, 139 acres with a real set of amenities:

• 3 miles of trails through the forest, connecting to the playground, picnic shelter, and parking

• A nature-themed, inclusive, and accessible playground with synthetic turf and a companion swing

• 2 acres of open grass

• A large shelter with 12 picnic tables

• 75 parking spots, on-site signage and maps, and portable restrooms

There's also a temporary 18-hole disc golf course open for play right now, built in partnership with the South Puget Sound Disc Golf Association. A permanent 18-hole course is planned as a long-term project, and the association is inviting the community to play the temporary layout and share feedback ([email protected]) to help shape the final design.

The park is named in honor of Greg Cuoio, Lacey's former City Manager, who dedicated 24 years to public service and was instrumental in securing these lands for public use between 2002 and 2012. Phase 1A cost $6.5 million to build; the city secured nearly $1 million in grant funding toward it, including a state legislative appropriation and a Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office grant.

An official grand opening event is planned for later this year, but the park is open now. More info and updates are at laceyparks.org/Cuoio.

Real estate note: parks are one of the most underrated drivers of neighborhood value, and a 537-acre natural park is a generational addition for a city.

Lacey has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, and preserving this much forest and wetland while adding trails and a playground is exactly the kind of long-view investment that makes growth livable instead of just dense. If you're looking at homes on Lacey's north and east sides, proximity to Greg Cuoio Park is going to matter more every year.