TWIR: The power of community support; thank you Renton River Days sponsors

With summer in full swing, take a little downtime and slow down to explore Renton’s local charms. Plan a staycation for the whole family and take advantage of the Main Street Money program.

The program gives local hotel guests $50 in free ‘Main Street Money’ to use at partnering downtown restaurants and shops when booking a two-night stay at a participating Renton hotel.

This limited-time offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is valid from April 20, 2023, to September 30, 2023 (dates subject to change).

Main Street Money provides an incentive to visit and encourages participants to support local businesses and contribute to community growth. Explore the diverse range of participating businesses and experience all Renton's downtown district offers.

The program is a partnership with the Washington State Main Street Program, Renton Downtown Partnership, and the city’s Community Economic and Development Department.

 

Sunset neighborhood’s highly anticipated Solera residence, business and community project tops out 

The final beam was placed at the Solera project last Friday as elected officials and teams involved in the planning and construction watched. This "topping out” milestone brings the project closer to Renton having another high-quality, affordable housing option.

Solera is a crucial part of the Sunset Area Redevelopment Plan and a significant investment in the community. Once complete, the project will provide 686 new residential units, including affordable housing, market-rate units, townhome ownership, 5,800 square feet of commercial real estate, 9,000 square feet of childcare, and over 1,000 new parking stalls.

Located along Sunset Blvd. NE between NE 100th St. and Kirkland Ave. NE, Solera’s anticipated opening day is in 2024. Visit the Solera website. 

Get Ready to Celebrate: July is Parks and Recreation Month in Renton!   

Mayor Armondo Pavone officially designated July as Parks and Recreation Month in Renton, highlighting the incredible impact our Parks and Recreation Department has on our community. Get ready to dive into a month full of active fun and recreational opportunities for Renton.

The dedicated team behind our Parks and Recreation Department includes individuals representing different areas of the department, including:  

• Cailín Hunsaker, Parks & Trails Director  
• Carrie Nass, Recreation Director  
• Erica Schmitz, Parks Planning & Natural Resources Director  
• Liz Stewart, Renton History Museum Manager  
• Steve Meyers, Maplewood Golf Course Manager  
• Roberta Graver, Parks and Recreation Administrative Assistant  

"This team does an amazing amount of work, a lot of hard work out in our neighborhoods, our parks, our trails, our open spaces, our events, programs, golf course, museum. They just provide a lot for the public to enjoy," said Kelly Beymer, City of Renton Parks & Recreation Administrator.

Their hard work and dedication ensure that Renton residents can access numerous recreational activities, including hiking trails, swimming pools, dance, art, summer camps, sports, and other programs that promote active and healthy lifestyles.

Beyond individual health benefits, Renton's ongoing park improvement projects create long-lasting economic impacts on the community. Increased property values, the development of the local tax base, growth in area tourism, and a reduction in crime rates are just some ways parks and natural recreation areas benefit the local community.

Our parks and natural spaces serve as an ecological wonder and a place for children and adults to reconnect with nature and recreate outdoors.

To learn more about the department's initiatives and activities, visit the Parks and Recreation Department website. 

 

These seismic improvements to the bridge were crucial for the safety of drivers and hadn’t been performed since 1939.  

During the closure, crews completed a seismic retrofit to the steel main span. In addition, they installed new elastomeric bearing pads and compression seal expansion joints. The roadway received a waterproofing membrane and a new asphalt overlay. 

We know major roadway construction projects like this are an inconvenience to residents and businesses. We appreciate the community’s patience while we completed this much-needed public safety project.  

Our appreciation also goes to our Transportation Systems Division staff, who work diligently with contractors to ensure projects are completed efficiently and with minimum disruption to traffic flow.

 

WSDOT will begin work later this summer repairing the Lind Avenue SW bridge after being damaged in June 2022 by a truck pulling a backhoe. Closed since then, this project will restore the structural integrity of the bridge.

During this project, slated for completion in winter 2024, the entire north span and part of the south span of the bridge will be replaced.

I-405 will experience several closure dates necessary to complete the project. Detour routes in place. Closures will include: 

• A weekend-long southbound closure to demolish the damaged section 
• Six to eight nighttime southbound closures to place girders ad rebuild the bridge deck 
• Single and double-lane closures in both directions