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 Happy Friday, Kent!
I want to acknowledge the frustration we are all feeling right now because of the ongoing Republic Services labor dispute, which started out of Boston. Missing garbage pickups aren’t just inconvenient—they impact our daily lives, and I want you to know we hear you.
We’re in daily contact with Republic Services and doing everything within our power to encourage a quick and fair resolution. We’re also exploring all options allowed by our contract to address this disruption and keep our community safe and healthy.
If you’ve missed your regular garbage pickup, you can bring your bagged garbage at no cost to these drop-off sites. Please bring your ID or a Republic Services invoice, and keep in mind there may be wait times, so we are asking you to bring your patience:
- Saturday, July 19 | 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | accesso ShoWare Center
Bulky waste won’t be accepted at this time.
For the latest updates directly from Republic Services, please visit bit.ly/4kqOw4L.
I know this isn’t the way any of us want to be dealing with garbage pickup, and I appreciate your patience as Republic and Teamsters work toward a resolution.
Please enjoy the rest of this week's update and have a great weekend!
Dana Ralph, Kent Mayor
Today, we celebrated the official Grand Opening of Springwood Park!
The complete renovation features a new playground and misting feature, walking paths, new park shelter, and improved drainage and irrigation in the updated lawn space.
Attendees scored some Kent Parks freebies, then played lawn games with our staff. It was a great afternoon! We continue the fun next week on Thursday, July 24 with a Build Your Own SAND-imal event at Lake Meridian Park and hope to see you there!
Check out the rest of these FREE pop-up events where you can come and celebrate Parks & Recreation Month with us. No registration is required. Pack up the family and swing by to play, have fun, and enjoy some freebies. Stay tuned to the Kent Parks Facebook page for more details on each event!
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Thanks again to the Kent Lions Club for another successful Cornucopia Days! I had so much fun at the parade on Sunday and walking around to see what our small businesses had to offer!
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Thursday afternoon, I had the opportunity to join mayors and delegates from across King County to kick off the King County Fair in Enumclaw.
Thank you, Mayor Jan Molinaro, for including us in the festivities.
Pictured: Jim Ferrell, Mayor of Federal Way; Traci Buxton, Mayor of Des Moines; Sean P. Kelly, Mayor of Maple Valley; Shannon Braddock, King County Executive; Reagan Dunn, King County Councilmember; Lydia Assefa-Dawson, Council President of Federal Way; Jeff Wagner, Mayor of Covington; and Claudia Balducci, King County Councilmember.
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After the parade on Sunday, I stopped by the Mela Mawan Dhiyan at accesso ShoWare Center. The mela is a celebration of the special bond between mothers and daughters.
It is a beautiful festival, and I am very grateful to have been invited back this year! Thank you, Ranjit and Satwinder, for including me and my mom!
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Our next Green Kent volunteer event will take place on tomorrow at Morrill Meadows Park!
Come out to help us follow up on some previous blackberry work and continue to remove invasive blackberry to care for native trees and shrubs.
A great way to give back to the community is through hands-on conservation. Sign up as a volunteer at MyKentParks.com/GreenKent
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Check out the upcoming book sale at Kent Panther Lake Library!
Find great deals on gently books for adults, youth and children. They will also have DVDs, CDs, and puzzles. Proceeds help support library programs in two Kent libraries.
Venmo and Zelle will be accepted, and all proceeds support library programs and events for the community.
Reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities is available by request. Email access@kcls.org
at least seven days before the event.
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After years of construction and planning, I’m excited to share that the brand-new Veterans Drive tunnel is now open.
The tunnel runs underneath I-5, north of the SR 516 underpass, and connects Veterans Drive directly to the southbound I-5 off-ramp and the northbound on-ramp. It also extends across Military Road South, creating a more direct route between the Kent Valley and I-5.
This project is all about improving safety, reducing congestion, and making your daily commute smoother.
The Veterans Drive tunnel is part of the larger SR 509 Completion Project.
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It's farmers market season!
Living Well Kent is hosting their Farmers Market downtown! This is a community driven market, increasing access to fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant produce to our community.
📅 Every Saturday until September 14
⏰ 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
📍 2nd Ave between Smith and Gowe
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Here's the recap on what the Kent City Council has been working on! It was a busy week with lots of important items to attend to.
You can also see the full meeting agendas, minutes and livestream recordings on our website.
At Tuesday night's city council meeting, I presented Stacy Judd from the Kent PD Community Education Unit with a proclamation for National Night Out on August 5.
We're expecting dozens of Kent neighborhoods to participate, and representatives from the city will visit as many of their gatherings as we can.
Learn more about signing your neighborhood up at KentWA.gov/NNO
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The Kent Downtown Partnership is bringing back Cajun and Creole Fest on August 16. Spice up your taste buds and experience the soul of Louisiana in the Pacific Northwest. Dance, dine, and have a ragin’ Cajun good time where Southern culture and hospitality turn historic downtown Kent into our own “Little Louisiana”!
Live music and dancing will keep festival-goers entertained throughout the day, with performances by Cajun and Zydeco bands. It’s a perfect opportunity to experience the vibrant and lively culture of Louisiana, Cajun- and Creole-themed food trucks, beer/wine garden, vendors/artists, and activities for the kids. Get your free tickets here!
It's our favorite month of the year! Every year since 1985, Americans have celebrated National Parks & Recreation Month during the month of July to recognize the importance of parks and recreation and the professionals in this field.
Come and celebrate with us at the last free pop-up events of the month!
📅 Thursday, July 24
🫏 Build your own Sand-imal
⌚ 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
📍Lake Meridian Park
📅 Thursday, July 31
👑 Kent Parks Royal Party
⌚ 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
📍 Van Doren's Landing Park
No registration is required. Pack up the family and swing by to play, have fun, and enjoy some freebies. Stay tuned to the Kent Parks Facebook page for details on each event!
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 Evening Pickleball!
Tuesday evenings this month, drop by the Kent Commons for Open Pickleball! Open to all ages. Courts are labeled for Family, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
⌚ 6 - 9 p.m.
💵 $3/person
Participants are encouraged to bring their own paddles. Balls are supplied.
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 The Kent Parks Summer Playgrounds & Lunch Program is under way!
Summer Playgrounds are a great way for you and your child to enjoy their time off from school at local parks in our community.
Plus, Kent School District Food Services will provide a free lunch every day for school-aged students. Lunch is served at all locations from 12-12:30pm. This FREE drop-in offering is offered weekdays from 11:30am-3:30pm at Chestnut Ridge Park, West Fenwick Park, and Morrill Meadows Park now through August 8.
Join the Parks team for games, sports, arts & crafts, water games, and more! Check out the details on our website: MyKentParks.com/SummerPlaygrounds.
The Kent Parks HERO program is also underway! Learn more about the HERO program online at MyKentParks.com
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Summer in Kent is the best! Whether you’re grabbing fresh produce at the Farmers Market, attending a concert in the park, or soaking up the sun with your family and neighbors, there are so many ways to get out and enjoy our city.
Check out everything happening this season at KentWA.gov/Summer.
Congratulations to our July Employee of the Month, Steve Barton
Steve Barton joined the IT Department in April 2022 as a Project Manager, where he leads key tech projects across the city, primarily supporting Finance and Public Works.
With a background in Computer Information Systems from Indiana University, Steve also holds PMP and CSM certifications and has a passion for improving systems that make work smoother for staff and services better for residents.
Before Kent, Steve spent 15 years supporting the Department of Defense’s electronic health record rollout. He brings that same commitment to innovation, integrity, and teamwork to every project here.
Known for his clear communication, mentorship, and dedication to results, Steve has earned respect citywide. From hiking local trails to movie nights with his kids, Steve brings energy and heart to all he does.
Congratulations, Steve, and thank you for all you do for the City of Kent!
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Get ready to cruise into summer at the 7th Annual Cruisin’ Kent Classic Car Show. Bring the family down for lunch, see some classic cars and win prizes!
We are excited to partner with Kent Station for this fun and free event! Don't forget to pick up your 50/50 ticket where the profits will be donated to the Green River College VET fund. Here's where you can register your car and get all the information!
📆 Sunday, August 24
⌚ 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
📍 Kent Station
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Tonight is the last chance to help update the Downtown Kent Plan!
Through recent community conversations, focus groups, and interviews with local residents, business owners, service providers, and property owners, we've started to identify key opportunities and challenges in Downtown Kent.
Take a moment to share your thoughts and ideas – your input is essential to shaping a downtown that works for all of us! Click the link below to take our survey.
Help Shape Downtown: Complete the ReDiscover Downtown Survey!
Let’s build a Downtown Kent that reflects our shared vision and values. Thank you for being part of this exciting process!
Copper theft is a serious issue that affects everyone in the Kent community. Intentional cable cuts cause significant disruptions to network services.
If you see something, say something. Report suspicious activity to law enforcement by calling 911.
Customers can always check for outages or address common service issues at xfinity.com/status or the Xfinity app. Video produced by Comcast.
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We’re excited to announce that we are offering our FREE life vest loaner program again!
Swim safe this summer with a free life vest rental from Kent Parks. Interested individuals can check out a life vest for a single day, or the entire summer season! Life vests are available to be checked out from the Kent Commons Community Center. All sizes are available. Please call 253-856-5100 with questions.
Please note that life vests must be checked out in-person, quantities are limited. Life vests are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Last weekend, we welcomed over 540 racers to the 2025 Cornucopia Days 5k course at Three Friends Fishing Hole! It was a beautiful morning filled with fun, family, friends, and community. Thank you to all who joined the Kent Parks team for this year’s race! We are already looking forward to the 2026 event.
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 Applications are 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!
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 Kyle, Josh and Tracy catch up with Sr. Parks Program and Facility Manager Dave Heldt this week to talk about summer at the Kent Commons. From programs to services, there's something for everyone.
The team also breaks down the latest Kent City Council Meeting, Parks and Rec month and a whole lot more!
Take a listen!
Listen now on:
🔊 Apple Podcasts apple.co/3J2UMkd
🔊 Spotify spoti.fi/3GNCeli
🔊 Amazon Music amzn.to/3jjaOvU
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 The KentWorks app lets you access information and improve your neighborhood and community by reporting non-emergency issues.
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!
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