Happy Friday!
Happy Friday Kent!
The Kent City Council met again this week for the Committee of the Whole, workshop and regular council meeting after a couple weeks of no meetings.
As a reminder, you can view the agendas, minutes and livestream recordings of the meetings on our website and YouTube.
We discussed some important items and moved others forward this week including storm water quality and drainage improvements, regional grant funding, easements, transportation and public safety and construction bids.
There's a lot of great information in this week's update, so I hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!
Dana Ralph, Kent Mayor
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This week the King County Council approved an $800,000 grant to help develop the new East Hill North Community Park! They also approved an Open Space River Corridors Grant of $200,000 to the city for habitat restoration at Boeing Rock Park. Read more here. |
At Tuesday's Kent City Council meeting, Mayor Ralph issued a proclamation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month, which was accepted by Alex and Clara O'Keeffe. You can read about their story and mission to increase awareness about FASD at KentWA.gov/PeopleOfKent. |
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I also issued a proclamation for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which was accepted by the Stenson family in honor of their daughter's battle with pediatric cancer. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month was made to raise awareness about pediatric cancer, which remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 14. |
Check out the Kent Valley Frog Loop, our September Ride of the Month! bit.ly/3deF1ci
It's a beginner to intermediate, flat, 9 mile loop around Kent with a great tour of some of the city's best trails! |
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The RASKC animal shelter is over capacity! They need your help to find furever homes for dogs of all sizes. All month, it's just $50 to adopt an adult dog. You can learn more at their website. |
Apple has issued iOS 16.6.1, an emergency iPhone update you should apply now to safeguard yourself from an exploitable vulnerability. bit.ly/47YBy9o It's crucial that you take this step immediately to ensure the security of your device and information. |
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Don't miss the stunning photographs and artwork of Sonya Lang and Toka Valu in the Centennial Gallery during September and October. The gallery is located at 400 West Gowe St and is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Join Toka for an opening reception on Wed., Sept. 13 at 6 p.m.
- “Tūtūpakanava,” digital photo and illustration, 12” x 12”, © Toka Valu and “South Falls at Silver Falls, OR, 36” x 24”, © Sonya Lang |
Garrison Creek Park Project
Our Parks team is preparing to kick off an improvement project at Garrison Creek Park and we want to hear from you!
This project seeks to find a solution to long-standing court surfacing issues that are unique to this joint Parks-Public Works facility, and ways to optimize this area so the park supports how you want to play, recreate and enjoy Garrison Creek!
The Parks team will be holding two pop-up events for you to learn more about the project and provide your feedback.
- September 18, 2-6pm at the Panther Lake Safeway (20830 108th AVE SE)
- September 21, 2-6pm at Garrison Creek Park (9615 S 218th ST)
If you can’t make it to either of the pop-up events, I encourage you to visit EngageKentParks.com and take the project survey to provide your input. The survey opens on September 14.
Thunderbird Flag Raising
Join us when we raise the Thunderbirds flag at Kent City Hall with Head Coach Matt O'Dette, Cool Bird, a few of their players! They had an amazing season last year and there's a lot of excitement heading into their home opener September 30 at accesso ShoWare Center!
📅 September 29
🕐 2 p.m.
📍 Kent City Hall
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Calling all hockey fans! The Greater Kent Historical Museum is hosting a Thunderbird season kickoff event
September 16. The team has brought memorabilia, trophies, jerseys and photos to display in the museum for a limited time. There will be a special appearance from Cool Bird to celebrate the display.
📅 September 16
⌚ 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
📍 Greater Kent Historical Society Museum |
Block Watch
The Kent Police Department is holding a Neighborhood Block Watch 101 class for neighborhoods looking to start of revitalize a block watch!
You will learn about why every neighborhood should have one and how to get it started. There will be information on current crime trends and prevention tips. Grab some neighbors to attend with you!
📅 Thursday, September 28
⌚ 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
📍 Kent Police/Fire Training Center 24523 116th Ave SE, Kent, WA
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The next session of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training starts September 21.
When widespread disasters strike, city workers can be overwhelmed. This course is designed to give people the skills and confidence to safely help themselves and others when help is delayed.
The eight-week program meets 2 different times on Thursday. 1-4:30 p.m. or 6-9:30 p.m.
This training provides instruction on disaster preparedness, disaster first aid, triage, fire safety, search and rescue, disaster psychology and team organization.
Here's where you can sign up.
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Sip and Savor
Put on your walking shoes and join Kent Downtown Partnership's Sip & Savor event.
Come explore the diverse offerings of wine, cider, spirts and beer within the landscape of Downtown Kent. Participating restaurants and food vendor(s) will offer an array of tasty bites, highlighting the talent and creativity of local chefs and artisans.
Sip & Savor will also feature carefully curated live music by the Paula Boggs Band, Kim Archer Band, Jukebox Jamzz, The Laborer and the JBLM Big Foot Band who will be hosted throughout downtown businesses. Get your tickets here!
📅 Friday, September 15
⌚ 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.
📍 Downtown Kent
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Get your furry friends licensed with Regional Animal Services of King County to help get them back to you if they're ever lost!
Your license also helps fund RASKC's life-saving animal shelter work. They reunite lost pets 24/7 and provide shelter pet care 365 days a year.
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Team Up 2 Clean Up
Join us for our Fall Litter Cleanup on the East Hill, West Hill and Downtown!
Each spring and fall the City of Kent hosts a litter cleanup event where community members can come out and volunteer to beautify Kent as individuals or in teams at various locations around the city. Learn more and sign-up online!
📅 Saturday, September 30
⏰ 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
📍 Kent United Methodist Church, Kherson Park, West Hill Plaza
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The Kent Farmers Market is winding down! The last market will be tomorrow, September 9.
📅 Every Saturday
⏰ 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
📍 2nd Ave between Smith and Gowe
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Fall Parks Guide
Check your mailbox for the new Kent Parks Fall Recreation Guide!
From preschool classes and afterschool programs to clubs and outdoor adventures for Adults 50+ and everything in between, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy! Registration is open now!
View a digital copy of the guide and sign up for programs online now!
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If you are 50 or older, stop by the Kent Senior Activity Center on Thursday, September 21 for the free 11th Annual Wellness Fair! This event is supported by the King County VSHS Levy.
There will be info booths from local organizations and the opportunity to get health screenings or your annual flu shot, and more! Call the Senior Center at 253-856-5150 for more information.
📅 September 21
⌚ 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
📍 Kent Senior Activity Center
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Registration for the Kent Parks Youth Fall Volleyball program is still open! Registration is open to all kids in Pre-K to Grade 8. Pre-K participants must be 3 by August 31, 2023. Scholarships are available to qualifying families. You can register at MyKentParks.com/Register |
Fall Conservation Events
Registration is now open for our Fall Conservation Events! Community members of all ages are welcome to join our conservation efforts here in Kent and volunteer to help keep our parks and natural areas healthy and thriving.
This is also a great way for students to get valuable experience and complete community service hours. Mark your calendars for our upcoming events.
- ReLEAF, October 7
- Orca Recovery Day (held in partnership with Green River Coalition), October 14
- Arbor Day, November 4
Register online to volunteer at MyKentParks.com/VolunteerEvents.
Spotlight Series
Our 2023-2024 Spotlight Series brings the best entertainment to local stages here in Kent! You won’t want to miss out on the amazing line-up we have planned for this season! See the incredible line up and buy your tickets here.
Seeking Vendors
We are now accepting new vendor applications for the 2023 Holiday Craft Market!
📍 Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E Smith St
🗓️ Friday, November 3 & Saturday, November 4
⏰ Friday: 9am-5pm, Saturday: 9am-4pm
Submit your application or learn more at MyKentParks.com/HolidayCraftMarket.
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We want to hear from you! Visit the Engage Kent Parks website to see what projects they are currently working on. They would love to hear your ideas and feedback to help guide the planning process. |
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We're HIRING! Check out our featured jobs and great opportunities on our hiring page at Jobs.KentWA.gov!
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Applications are now being accepted for the city's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Board. The goal of the board is to increase engagement, integration and access to city services for all cultural communities in Kent.
You can learn about the city's work in these areas and the Equity Strategic Plan at KentWA.gov/Race-Equity, and apply to be on the board.
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