2040 Vision

The Envision Lakewood 2040 vision statement is a concise, aspirational statement that articulates the desired future for Lakewood. It sets the stage for all other elements within the Plan.

The Vision Statement describes high-level conditions and outcomes that the community hopes to preserve and curate over the next 15+ years. The Vision Statement sets the direction and priorities for the rest of the Vision Elements in this Plan including the Guiding Principles, Goals, and Strategies.

The vision and values reflected in the Vision Statement are a direct result of the thousands of community members who participated in engagement activities during the process. Notably, the very first engagement activity was a four-question survey that was mailed to every household in Lakewood (approximately 85,000 addresses). To encourage as many community members as possible to participate. the survey was designed to be accessible and easy to respond to by offering a prepaid mail back option and online option in both English and Spanish.

The four open ended questions, listed below, were intended to provide insight on the community’s vision, values and concerns for Lakewood’s future.

• I love to live in Lakewood because ____.
• Two places or things in Lakewood that bring me joy are ____.
• Two concerns I have for Lakewood over the next 15 years (2040) are ____.
• In 15 years (2040), I hope Lakewood ____.

A total of 2,147 survey responses were received providing over 92,000 cumulative words of extensive feedback. City parks, neighborhoods, local businesses, art and cultural amenities such as Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park and the Cultural Center, and community facilities such as recreation centers and libraries, and the environment were commonly shared in response to questions one and two. These are clearly some of the most cherished amenities within the city. Common concerns and challenges for Lakewood’s future included housing, affordability, safety, development and growth, and homelessness. All 2,147 survey responses provided in-depth feedback that guided the draft Vision Statement.

The final Vision Statement, visually represented in an illustration by local artist Elle Powell, embodies the vision, values, and priorities described throughout the Envision Lakewood 2040 Plan. It represents the culmination of extensive input from the community, Planning Commission, City Council, City staff, and consultants and serves as the foundation for the subsequent Guiding Principles, Goals, and Strategies.