Lacey signs agreement with North Thurston Public Schools for athletic field operation

In a collaborative effort to maximize the use of athletic facilities for community benefit, the City of Lacey and North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) have formalized a sub-agreement for the operation of athletic fields.  

The sub-agreement, an extension of a previously established Master Interlocal Agreement, sets forth guidelines for the shared use and management of NTPS’ athletic fields. 

The agreement recognizes NTPS’ ownership and operational control over the athletic fields located at its school sites, while also acknowledging Lacey’s capacity to effectively schedule community use of these facilities.  

“In doing this, hopefully, we won't have to take everything to the Council every time we use the fields,” said Lacey’s Parks, Culture and Recreation Manager Sue Falash during a meeting on June 5.  

“The only other one that will probably need to go to Council is the pools because of the dollar amount,” he added. 

In the contract, both parties have emphasized the importance of keeping these fields accessible outside of school hours, providing a valuable resource for community members and students alike. 

Under this agreement, the city will manage the scheduling of community use for all NTPS athletic fields, excluding varsity softball, varsity baseball, and turf fields. 

NTPS retains exclusive use of the fields during school hours and will communicate any dates and times when fields are unavailable due to school events.  

Lacey is also tasked with setting the rental rates for the fields and conducting biennial reviews to ensure the rates remain fair and appropriate.  

Additionally, community user groups must provide insurance certificates naming both the City of Lacey and North Thurston Public Schools as additional insured entities, with minimum coverage limits of $2,000,000 for bodily injury and property damage per occurrence.  

As part of the operational logistics, Lacey is permitted to provide portable toilets at the fields, with the associated fees included in the overall rental fee structure.  

Detailed financial reports, including portable toilet fees and a 10% administrative fee, will be submitted by the city to NTPS annually. 

For further details or inquiries about field scheduling and usage, community members are encouraged to contact the City of Lacey's Parks and Recreation Department.