Happy Friday, Kent!

City of Kent sent this bulletin at 04/07/2023 04:57 PM PDT

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March 31, 2023

Happy Friday, Kent!

Congratulations to the Seattle Thunderbirds! They are the first Western Conference Club through to the Second Round of the 2023 WHL Playoffs!

Today is World Health Day, which helps to spread awareness about mental and physical health. The city offers many great programs that can keep them in check.

Check them out at MyKentParks.com.

As always, there's a lot going on around the city and I'm excited to share this week's updates with you. Hope you enjoy and have a fantastic weekend!

Dana Ralph, Kent Mayor

I want to wish a Happy Easter to all in our community who celebrate!

I also wanted to wish a Happy Passover to everyone in the Kent community celebrating.

Transportation Improvement Program

Kent has transportation options for everyone—drivers, transit riders, pedestrians and cyclists. Flexibility is important to us.

Our 2024-2029 Transportation Improvement Program includes a list of projects we're looking at building over the next several years to improve transportation and transit around the city. Check out our online storymap for some history and details about our projects.

Equity & Inclusion Speaker Series

Daphne Frias is a youth activist with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to ambulate. She is fiercely proud to be a loud champion for the disabled community.

I'd like to invite you to this upcoming presentation where we will explore the pillars of disability advocacy while touching on the history of disability culture in America.

The concept of able-bodied allyship will be broken down including how to have inter-community dialogue. Participants will leave with an understanding of how disability shapes our everyday lives and actionable items to help them lead a more disability positive lifestyle. Learn more on our website!

📅 Wednesday April 26
⌚7 p.m.
📍 Green River College, Kent Campus

Kent City Council

Here's your recap on the last Kent City Council meeting. See the full agenda and livestream recordings at our website.

Kent 101

Congratulations to the Spring Class of Kent 101! Tuesday night during our city council meeting I recognized the most recent graduating class.

The hard work they put in is a testament to their commitment to making a positive impact in Kent.

Please join us in congratulating these graduates on their achievements and welcoming them as active and informed members of our community.

During the city council meeting Tuesday, Raphael sedan, Jason Kim, KP Bucknor and Cjay Yagumyum from Kentwood High School were there as an assignment for their civics class.

Also, Kentwood Student Kennedy Moore came to my office, ready with questions for her civics class. It's always so nice to see our youth wanting to be involved in local government!

Last night, I went to multicultural night at Kent Elementary. The students shared their culture through art, projects, dance, song, fashion and food. It was so much fun!

🌼There's only one week left for curbside clean-up!

Our annual clean-up programs provide residents with ways to get rid of extra yard waste and garbage.

This is free to all residential households in Kent.

Simply place your extra garbage and yard waste at the curb on your regular yard waste pick-up day. See the pick-up days here!

Our pets are precious, and we would be absolutely heartbroken if they went missing! A pet license provides peace of mind in case your pet gets lost, and found pets are reunited with their owners quicker!

License fees also support efforts to help us find homes for thousands of pets every year. From April 1 through June 30, you can license your cat or dog, or renew an expired license, and your late fees will be waived.

The Kent Museum is unveiling its Welcome Figure with a dedication April 29 at 1 p.m.

Welcome figures are found around Washington State and Vancouver Island and were placed near the water to indicate that travelers coming by canoe were welcome.

The Welcome Figure is being carved by Waqusqidəb (Mike Evans), Honorable Chair of the Snohomish Tribe of Indians, Father of the Blue Heron Canoe Family and Vice President of the Greater Kent Historical Society.

📅 April 29
⌚ 1 p.m.
📍Greater Kent Historical Society and Museum

Blood banks across the United States are reporting critical shortages, with donor levels lower now than they were before. Let's help patients in our community by making an appointment at the pop-up blood drive happening at Kent Station.

Morril Meadows Park Renovations

Just a reminder that our Parks Team has closed off parts of Morrill Meadows Park for renovations through the end of December.

I'm very excited that our residents will experience improved lawn space, an expanded playground with improved ADA access and new swings, a new nature play area, updated park furnishings, and a permanent stage for summer concerts.

You can learn more at EngageKentParks.com.

Mill Creek Canyon and Earthworks Park

Our Parks team is developing a new framework plan for Mill Creek Canyon and Earthworks Park. This will be a first step into a long-term reinvestment plan.

Park investments for the next several years are made to increase access, use and visibility. We want to hear what you want to support greater use of the park and canyon. Please submit your feedback by taking this short survey.

Commons Community Garden

We celebrated the Grand Re-Opening of Kent Commons Community Garden on Saturday!

The new location is just behind ShoWare Center at the Commons Neighborhood Park! Thank you for all who joined up! We are super excited to see what our gardeners will grow this season!

If you would like to become a gardener or learn more about the program, join us at MyKentParks.com/Garden

Earth Day

Our Parks team is kicking off their 2023 Volunteer Conservation Event series with an Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 22!

Join your friends and neighbors and show some love to our little corner of this big, beautiful planet.

Volunteering at our Parks conservation events are a great way to get involved and give back to our Kent community. Sign up now and bring your students! This is a great way for them to get community service hours!

📅 Saturday, April 22
⏰ 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
📍 Clark Lake Park

What started as the water festival in the year 2000, has now morphed into the Planet Protector Summit. Over 30,000 students have participated in learning about our water and the natural environment. Last week, several students participated in the summit at Green River College.

The goal of the Planet Protectors Summit is to teach children about many aspects of the environment to help make our community a better place.

I'm excited to tell you Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) is hosting a number of open houses across King County to provide community members with information about the VSHSL and VSHSL-funded services in our community. The open houses are open to the public and there is no registration to attend.

📅 Wednesday June 7
🕑 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
📍 850 Central Ave N

Are you ready to run!? Join us for the 2023 Kent Cornucopia Days 5k!

The race will start and finish at the Three Friends Fishing Hole Park . Race fees are $20, or $35 with this fun throwback shirt! Sign up to race and get your fun throwback shirt!

📅 Saturday July 15 at 9 a.m.
📍Three Friends Fishing Hole Park