TWIR: U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree coming to Renton on November 6!

In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the City of Renton is excited and grateful for this unique opportunity. The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will make a special appearance in Renton as part of its 4,000-mile journey from Alaska to Washington, D.C.  

Renton is one of 12 cities nationwide and the only city in Washington to be selected this year for a Whistlestop Tour appearance.  

The event will take place on Wednesday, November 6, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., and will be held at the boat launch at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.  

The gathering starts at 4:30 p.m. Attendees can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and holiday tunes before speeches by Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone and a few others are made around 5 p.m. Residents can then take pictures with the tree and send messages of peace, hope, and joy to the Capitol!  

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a national tradition right here at home! RSVP at rentonwa.gov/uscapitoltree. 

To learn more about the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, visit uscapitolchristmastree.com. 

 

During Monday evening’s council meeting, the city was presented with its twelfth Governor’s Smart Communities Award for the Sunset Gardens project.  

The award was announced in August by the Washington State Department of Commerce. The City of Renton’s Community and Economic Development Department and project partners officially received the award earlier this week.  

“It is always exciting to win awards, but it really speaks to the work that our staff does and has done for a lot of years. The winner really isn’t the award — it’s our community and the projects that are completed,” said City of Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone.  

The project was awarded the Smart Partnership award, which recognizes a successful joint public project. The city’s Community & Economic Development Department partnered with the city’s Public Works Department, Renton Housing Authority, JP Morgan Chase Bank, King County, and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. 

The project also focused on affordable housing for residents earning under 50% of the median income, as well as long-term planning that began ten years ago with the city’s 2015 comprehensive plan. This demonstrates everything the Washington State Department of Commerce seeks when awarding Governor’s Smart Communities Awards.

Last month, the City of Renton's Public Works Department was awarded the Envision “Verified Rating” for Sustainable Infrastructure. This award is provided by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). 

The award was granted for the sustainable planning, design, and construction work on the NE 16th Street-Jefferson Avenue NE Stormwater Green Connections project. 

Envision rates projects based on 64 sustainability criteria including community, quality of life, management, planning, materials, energy, water, environmental impacts, emissions, and resilience. ISI is a nonprofit in Washington, D.C. that promotes sustainability to support communities' thriving. 

The Envision award is granted to projects based on planning, design, and delivery in a sustainability framework. ISI is a nonprofit in Washington, D.C. that promotes sustainability to help communities thrive. 

The NE 16th Street-Jefferson Avenue NE Stormwater Green Connections project was funded by the Washington State Department of Ecology and the City of Renton’s Surface Water Utility Division to enhance the water quality of stormwater runoff to John and May Creek. 

This forward-thinking project, completed on September 6, 2022, prioritized stormwater improvements. Upgrades included drainage improvements with new catch basins and piping for better water flow, and new bioretention (engineered rain gardens) that slows and filters rainwater runoff to reduce pollutants. The city made sure to enhance fire safety by installing new fire hydrants. The project combined stormwater management, water enhancements, and long-term system improvements. 

The project's success was made possible through the efforts of the city's Public Works Department. The project team is committed to building a safe, healthy, vibrant community that encourages environmental sustainability. 

Congratulations to the city's Public Works Department for this remarkable achievement. 

 

It is never too early to register for the 2024 K9 Candy Cane 5K Fun Run and Walk. Early bird registration ends this Friday, November 1, with fees of $20 for ages four to 17 and $28 for ages 18 and up. Fees increase to $27 and $35 after November 1. Sweatshirts will also be available until November 22. 

Renton Parks and Recreation hosts the K9 Candy Cane 5K Fun Run at Renton Community Center (RCC) on Sunday, December 8, starting at 9 a.m. 

The course is an out-and-back beginning at RCC, heading east on the Cedar River Trail to Riverview Park, and returning back to RCC. Strollers are welcomed on the course for both humans and dogs. 

Register for early bird prices now.

 

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