The Kent International Festival continues to be such an amazing example of the beauty that is Kent. Cultures from all over the world coming together to celebrate and share.

I am so grateful for Nancy and Dave Skipton and the KIF committee for sharing this event with our city for 17 years

Shout out to the awesome 5th graders at Kent Elementary

My annual visit did not disappoint. The students are smart, curious and willing to roll their sleeves up and find solutions. We discussed a variety of topics important to them, and they brainstormed solutions.

I say this every time I get to visit one of our classrooms and it holds true - our future is bright!

Thank you, Ms. Saucedo, for the invite and inspiring our incredible kids!

Another "our future is bright" example.

Earlier this week, Ms. Jepson-Hernandez invited me to sit in on presentations by the leadership students at Mill Creek Middle School.

The students have been working on a problem statement presented by Sound Transit all year. The final project was a group presentation including production of a short video as well website and marketing recommendations.

The task was to develop a creative brief to support Sound Transit in enhancing their marketing for the public sector to recruit a premier workforce.

The students delivered top-tier presentations - so impressive!

Wednesday night was the opening reception for the City of Kent's Summer Art Exhibit.

There are many great artists featured and a variety of mediums. The best thing of the night was seeing that the arts commission panel selected former councilmember Debbie Ranniger's piece Joy to add to the cities permanent collection!

The gallery is located in the Centennial Center and the show is definitely worth checking out.

Congratulations Team Punjab Grocery Bazaar on your grand opening!

Punjab Bazaar is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, tea, rice and other staples.

They also have samosas and sweet treats made fresh daily.

📍 Go see them at 23805 104th AVE SE, Kent, WA 98031

The City of Kent is giving away free surplus office furniture on a first-come, first-served basis!

Head over to the Administrative Services Building tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to take a look at what we have.

Please note that the City of Kent is not responsible for transferring any furniture from the building to an individual’s vehicle. Please bring the proper tools and equipment to transfer the furniture.

Thursday afternoon, we turned Kent City Hall into Kent Kitty Hall! We had council chambers lined up with people to see the cute adoptable kittens and cats from Regional Animal Services of King County! 

Our team at the Kent Senior Activity Center is gearing up for a summer full of fun!

If you are age 50 or older and interested in golfing, fishing, hiking, or getting out to explore more of our beautiful state, check out our upcoming trips. Learn more at MyKentParks.com/Register.

Longer days and warmer weather give you more time to play in Kent!

Unique playgrounds, quiet trails and scenic lakes offer days of outdoor fun. Explore the variety of Kent Parks on the city website.

There will be a full road closure this weekend on W. Meeker St from 64th Ave S to Washington Ave. for installation and paving.

The closure will start at 7 p.m. tonight and last until Sunday at 5 p.m.

Businesses along W Meeker St will be accessible, and detour signs will be posted. Our crews will also be out to provide traffic control.

This is the second in a series of 4 weekend closures for the remaining construction of the mid-block crossing & traffic islands.

As temperatures rise, remember that hot cars can be deadly for pets. Never leave your furry friends unattended in a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes. The temperature inside can skyrocket within moments, putting their lives at risk. Keep them safe and leave them at home!

ReCode Kent is a city initiative to update zoning and development standards to align with state mandates.

These changes are meant to improve the supply, types, affordability and quality of housing options.

- These changes won't affect your existing property or ownership
- Zoning is being updated to units per lot instead of acre
- Types of zones are being simplified
- Zones are being updated to require higher density and more units near transit
- The zone you live in may be changing, but you don't need to do anything.

Check out the interactive map which highlights zoning changes by parcel (site) level at bit.ly/4mAP22w.

There’s still time for you to provide input! Check out the draft ordinance and let us know what you think. bit.ly/4mlgWzg.

It's farmers market season! 

Living Well Kent has brought their Farmers Market downtown! This is a community driven market, increasing access to fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant produce to our community. 

Apply now to be a part of the Kent Farmers Market! Share your fresh produce, handmade goods, and unique creations with our vibrant community. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this local tradition!

📅 Starting Saturday, June 14
⏰ 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.​
📍 2nd Ave between Smith and Gowe

Get ready for the Kent Nerd Party, where downtown Kent transforms into the ultimate haven for nerds!

The Nerd Party is a street-wide event with a cosplay contest, miniature painting contest, Lego museum, LARP games, outdoor vendors, and more. 

All nerds are welcome! Whether you love science fiction, fantasy, horror, anime, gaming, or one of the other innumerable geeky pursuits!

📅 Saturday, June 7
⌚ 2 p.m.- 7 p.m.
📍 Page Turner Books (215 1st Ave S.)

Call before you dig!

Anytime you need to excavate for a home project, state law requires you to notify utility companies to avoid dangerous or costly damages.

Notify utilities of your intent to dig by calling 811 or by making an online request a few days before you plan to break ground. call811.com

DigSafeWA.org is your online resources for digging safely in Washington.

Want to guarantee you’re represented in future regional transportation plans?

Check your mailbox from now until June for an invitation to complete the Puget Sound Regional Travel Study.

Invited households will receive a gift card for participating! To learn more, visit: survey.psrc.org

We're hiring! Check out our featured jobs and find great Summer opportunities on our hiring page at jobs.kentwa.gov

The City of Kent is still accepting applications for our Parks & Recreation Commission! 

Multiple seats are available. Commissioners work with staff to provide input on planning efforts that influence the city’s parks system.

Things like planning, funding, rules, programs, and more. It’s a great way to get more involved with the Kent community.

Our Bicycle Advisory Board is still accepting applications for new members.

Members advise the council, mayor and staff on projects, policies and programs that affect cycling conditions in Kent!

Applications are still 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 here!

Join us for the Riverbend Bar & Grill Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, June 14!

The fun kicks off at 5 p.m. We’ll be holding a special ribbon cutting ceremony and then the fun begins! Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, be sure to stop by and check them out! The Riverbend Bar & Grill is located at the 18-hole course at the Riverbend Golf Complex.

The Kent Summer Concert Series kicks off July 9. We are so excited to bring you another season of FREE music and entertainment with Kent Station! Check out the line-up online now at KentWA.gov/SummerConcerts

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.

The KentWorks app lets you access information and improve your neighborhood and community by reporting non-emergency issues to the city. You can request a service, report a problem and find information about the City of Kent all from your mobile device in just a few taps!