Your Home Town Bulletin • August 2025
NW Landing office closed for Labor Day
The Northwest Landing office will be closed Monday, September 1, for Labor Day. The office will reopen Tuesday, September 2, at 9 a.m.
New playground equipment at Chief Leschi Park
More than 100 residents celebrated the opening of new playground equipment and a bathroom at Chief Leschi Park on July 28. A ribbon-cutting and ice cream treats were part of the festivities. The city was able to fund the project through real estate excise taxes (REET). At the base of the playground equipment is a soft flat “floor” to protect playground visitors from injuries and to make the playgrounds more accessible. The new bathroom, featuring a composting toilet, cost $58,000 and was funded through the Local Community Project Fund, sponsored by the office of Rep. Mari Leavitt. Why a composting toilet? Many parks are installing them because they are sustainable and use less water. There are several at Mount Rainier National Park and Washington State Parks. They are especially well-suited for parks where access to water and sewer lines is limited or where environmental impacts are a concern. City of Bellingham composting toilets factsheet.
September Community Yard Sale 2025
Saturday, September 20, is the last yard sale date for Northwest Landing in 2025. Please note that yard sales are not sponsored by either the Northwest Landing ROA or the City of DuPont. Governing documents for Northwest Landing state that yard sales may be held two times a year and are announced by the ROA. Dates for last year and this year were decided based on feedback we received from a 2023 community survey. Watch for a new community survey about events later this year.
Who to call – city or ROA
If something is on a city street, grass strip between sidewalk and street, park, or trail, the City of DuPont has jurisdiction. That includes lost dogs, dangerous or sick wild animals, abandoned vehicles, graffiti, and fallen trees. Go to Report a Problem on the city’s website.
If something is in an alleyway or a greenspace/pocket park (most have red benches), Northwest Landing ROA has jurisdiction. Call 253-964-1289 or email .
The Northwest Landing website hosts a Who You Gonna Call webpage which includes common topics our office gets questions about.
ROA support for July 4th and American Legion events
For the past several years, the Northwest Landing Residential Owners Association has supported two events for the entire 
DuPont community: 4th of July Hometown Celebration and the American Legion’s DuPont BBQ Cookoff. The ROA provided funding for the DuPont Historical Society’s annual pancake breakfast, entertainment at Clocktower Park, and the fireworks show at the DuPont Civic Center. Both events draw several thousand residents and visitors to DuPont.
The ROA supports several children’s activities for the 8th Annual DuPont BBQ Cookoff, August 15-17. The cookoff is hosted by the DuPont American Legion Post 53. There are three days of fun (and tasty) activities. Friday, August 15, is BBQ Kickoff Night beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance ($40 at the gate) and supports the DuPont chapter of the American Legion. Saturday’s activities will happen from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday is a “whole hog” event when (yup, that’s right) a whole hog will be barbequed and served up. Details and tickets are on the DuPont BBQ website.
Chamber of Commerce Mixer at the Market – July 31
Join the DuPont Chamber of Commerce, business community and guests to network and celebrate summer in Clocktower Park! Enjoy snacks and drinks at the July 31 DuPont Farmer’s Market, beginning at 5 p.m., hosted by Glacier Northwest. Stay for the music and enjoy a front row seat in our VIP tent to see ‘Elvis’. RSVP to DuPont Chamber.
Northwest Landing Events
Board of Directors – 5:30 p.m. • Wednesday • October 8, 2025 – via Zoom– reservations required by October 6. Call 253-964-1289 or email to reserve. On Zoom. Your 2025 Board of Directors can be reached at . Please contact staff at if you have questions or concerns a violation notice or want to report a problem with a Northwest Landing property.
Property Improvement Committee – meetings are generally held at 5:30 p.m. – 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. Except for underground irrigation systems, this committee must review all exterior modifications, including painting, roofing, adding central air conditioning, heat pump or solar panels, fences, sheds, patios, patio covers, decks, landscape renovations, adding or removing trees. Some projects may also require a city permit. Underground irrigation systems require a city permit. Property Improvement forms can be downloaded from the homeowner’s portal on the website. Go to Member Logins. After you login, click on Documents, then open the folder Property Improvement Committee Forms. Call 253-964-1289 if you need help finding PIC forms.
CORRECTION to July Ask ROA: The Ask ROA in July talked about home maintenance that requires review by the Property Improvement Committee. A sentence about replacing vinyl siding with another non-flammable alternative incorrectly stated that DuPont city code now requires an alternative to vinyl siding. The city council did consider amending the code after four homes were destroyed by fire a few years ago. Residents who need to repair or replace vinyl siding may choose to replace with Hardie Plank, which is more fire-resistant than vinyl. But it is not required.
Dear ROA,
I have a work trailer that I need to keep close to my house because I’m in the middle of a home renovation project. I just got a courtesy notice that my trailer was parked in my driveway longer than the 12 hours allowed. Just so you know…I park in the driveway during the day when I’m working on my project and then move the trailer to the street at night.
- Frustrated DIYer in Edmond Village
Dear Frustrated,
Recently the ROA board of directors voted to change the amount of time trailers, recreational vehicles, and boats can be parked in a driveway from 12 to 24 hours. That, hopefully, will give you enough time to load and unload, then move your trailer. If you anticipate having workers or your own work vehicle at your property for a renovation project, you have a couple of options. Contact the ROA office at and let us know how long the project will take. If
you need to park a trailer or vehicle on the street, you can apply for a temporary parking permit through the City of DuPont.
If you have a vehicle that you rarely drive and you already have two or more vehicles, consider doing the neighborly thing and pay for storage. That applies to boats and RVs too. There are many neighborhoods where our neighbors park a boat on the street but infrequently take the boat out on the water. Nearby vehicle storage is available at DuPont Heated Self Storage and at Public Storage, which has locations in Lacey and Lakewood.
Have a question for Ask ROA? Send a message to
Lawns: Healthy lawns need regular weeding, keep lawn clear of moss, clover and dandelions. Repair and reseed bare spots.
Mow lawns to maintain a height less than four inches. Edge lawns should along driveways, curbs, and sidewalks. All lawn clippings blown onto streets, driveways, and sidewalks should be removed after mowing. Do not dump lawn and tree clippings in the woods! You may think that’s a natural way to manage yard waste but it is a fire hazard and you may be introducing weeds to the woods.
You may allow your lawn to go dormant in the summer but be sure to water once a month, so it doesn’t completely die. Also be sure to remove weeds. The Pierce County Conservation District has some helpful tips for a “golden lawn.” Also see Washington State University’s Home Lawn Guide.
Shrubs, trees and flowers need water here in summer. Maybe before moving to Washington, you thought it rains here all the time. Washington is the Evergreen State, right? Interestingly, the region around Puget Sound has more of a Mediterranean climate – lots of rain in winter. But we have dry summers. Make sure to water shrubs and trees so it reaches the roots. One way to do that while conserving water is to use a soaker hose, which slowly waters plants at ground level. Watering tips from Swansons Nursery.
Washington State University’s suggested timeline for fertilizing lawns in western Washington is November 15–December 7, April 15, June 15, and September 1
Gardening resources for Washington State – flower beds, fruits, lawns, pest management, and more.
If you have suggestions about plants and plant care for the bulletin, email
Many of us moved from our parts of the country where the plants we see here in Washington were considered to be wildflower. Here it might be considered to be a weed. Buttercup, for example. Some of us growing up with fond memories of holding the flower under someone’s chin to find out if they like butter, right? But, in Washington, they are an invasive weed. Many that we see on the roadside are actually garden escapees from long ago.
The two plants shown here have similar small flowers – about one-third of an inch. The plant on the right is Claytonia sibirica or “candy flower.” It’s also known as “miner’s lettuce”. It’s actually an herb and, yes, it’s edible. If you’re familiar with wildflowers in the eastern U.S., it’s related to spring beauty. You will usually find candy flower in our woods, March through September. It can be white or pink. The plant (with the butterfly) on the left is a type of geranium that isn’t native here and is considered a noxious weed. Geranium robertianum, Herb-Robert or stinky Bob (yup, that’s right) grows everywhere and all year long. If you see it in your yard, pull it and put it in the trash or yard waste.
City of DuPont Events
SAIL-Stay Active & Independent for Life • Mondays & Wednesdays • 10-11 a.m. • DuPont Community Center • 303 Barksdale Avenue • 6-week class, $30 • $5 drop-in session. Strength, balance and flexibility fitness for adults age 65 and older.
DuPont Farmers Market • Thursday • 3-7 p.m. • July 31 • Clocktower Park • Puppet Storytime at 4 p.m.
Concert in the Park • Thursday • 6:30-8 p.m. • July 31 • Clocktower Park • featuring Elvis entertainer Danny Vernon. Order a charcuterie board for the concert – $25, serves two.
Dino Day • Saturday • August 2 • 1:30-3:30 p.m. • DuPont Historical Museum • 207 Barksdale Avenue • celebrate Suciasaurus rex, Washington’s state dinosaur, with dino crafts, scavenger hunt, music and refreshments.
Annual Moonwalk • Saturday • August 9 • 7:30-11 p.m. • Sequalitchew Creek Trail • 1700 Civic Drive. Enjoy a magical evening under a full moon with a guided tour, kids crafts, delicious dinner options, and local history. Special guests will be on site to share fascinating insights about astronomy and the night sky. The walk is free to attend. Salmon dinner-$22. Hot dog dinner-$5
Fort Nisqually 1843 site walking tour • Saturday • August 16 • 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. • park at DuPont City Hall, 1700 Civic Drive • walk across Center Drive at the traffic light to join the tour.
The Cowlitz Portage: Overland Adventures with George, Jim, Hank & Ed of the Hudson’s Bay Company, 1840-1850 • lecture by Steve Anderson, Fort Nisqually historian and author • Wednesday • August 20 • 7 p.m. • DuPont Historical Museum
Youth Police Academy • Tuesday-Wednesday • August 19-20 • free program for ages 11-14, learn more about police and fire departments, bicycle rodeo, fun activities, pizza party at the end. Space is limited and registration required.
DuPont Fall Market • Sunday • September 14 • 11 a.m.-4 p.m. • Clocktower Park
Sign up for city news
You can sign up for city email lists on a variety of topics including parks and recreation, public works, and city council news. Sign up for City of DuPont newsletters and alerts here