Kent School District kids are back in class! Please be aware of the kids coming and going as they walk or bike to school.

This is especially true near neighborhoods, school zones, crosswalks and bus stops. Slow down, be aware of your surroundings and don't drive distracted!

Last week, I had the chance to stop by the Hillcrest neighborhood for another Drinks in the Driveway.

It was my first time joining this neighborhood, and I loved how welcoming and engaged everyone was.

Thank you, Hillcrest neighbors, for the great conversation.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to drop off supplies at Kent Meridian High School gathered by the City of Kent Employee Charity Committee as a part of our annual Back to School Supply Drive!

Thank you, all of the staff that participated in, helping make sure students and teachers have what they need for a successful school year! 

Kent began preparing for the arrival of light rail nearly 20 years ago with the adoption of the Midway Subarea Plan, developed in partnership with our neighbors in Des Moines. From the start, light rail was envisioned as a cornerstone of how our community would grow. 

Now, as we continue to build for the future, the Federal Way Link Extension will give residents and visitors a new option for getting around, connecting more people to Kent and everything the Kent Valley has to offer. 

I'm excited to see the two stations opening in our city on December 6, 2025. The Kent/Des Moines Station and the Star Lake Station at the former Park and Ride, will both serve as gateways that will strengthen connections and opportunity for our community. 

Pictured: Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine, Fife Mayor Kim Roscoe, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, Representative Jamila Taylor, Des Moines Mayor Traci Buxton, King County Councilmember De'Sean Quinn, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, Senator Claire Wilson.

Thank you, Kent Lutheran Church, for hosting an outstanding block party this weekend! Also, thank you to all the local organizations who supported the event!

Happy 20th birthday La Huerta Market!

La Huerta Market has been an incredible part of our community for 20 years. Thank you, Juan, and Rossy and the entire team for all you do.

It was so much fun to help celebrate this milestone.

Join Chief Padilla for Coffee with the Chief on Wednesday September 3 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

It will be at the new Woods Coffee 15610 SE 272nd St. B101 in Kent. 

We had another successful Drinks in the Driveway this week! There were some great questions from the Meridian Villa Estates residents who care so much for their neighborhood!

Thanks to Chief Padilla and Chad Bieren from Public Works for answering their questions and concerns. 

Thanks to Lloyd Hartley for hosting! 

New Link light rail stations will open in Kent-Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Transit Center as soon as 2025. Metro is seeking feedback from communities in Algona, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, Pacific, SeaTac, and Tukwila on several proposed changes to our transit services in South King County.

Share your thoughts in a survey by Sunday, August 31st.

Our Parks crew is servin' up another great season of volleyball!

Program is open to all kids in Grades 3 to 12. Players are placed on a team within their grade level. This program is a great way to introduce your child to the game and develop their skills in a fun, supportive, and inclusive environment – sign your child up today!

Deadline to register is Tuesday, September 2. Register online at MyKentParks.com/Register.

Every single day, it takes 1,000 blood donors to save lives in hospitals right here in the Pacific Northwest. That’s 1,000 people stepping up, rolling up their sleeves, and making a real difference. Now, it’s your turn. accesso ShoWare Center is hosting a mobile blood drive on September 4.

Bloodworks Northwest will be located on the East side of accesso ShoWare Center near the Seattle Thunderbirds Team Store from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Our final flick of the FREE Kent Parks Summer Movie Series will take place on Friday, September 5 at Kherson Park.

Grab some blankets, pack up your friends and family, and join our Parks crew for a movie night under the stars. Kent Parks staff will be joined by Ice Cream Express – and the ice cream is on us!

We’ll push PLAY on Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark at dusk. See you there! Low-backed beach chairs are allowed. Blankets and pillows are encouraged!

Fall FUN is here!

Registration for all Fall programming is now open. From NEW preschool and youth classes and FREE after school programming, to clubs and outdoor adventures for adults 50+ and everything in between, there is something for everyone in the family!

Register for YOUR new fun online now at MyKentParks.com

Registration can also be completed in person at the Kent Commons Community Center or Kent Senior Activity Center, via phone (Kent Commons – 253-856-5100, Senior Center – 253-856-5150), or via mail or fax. 

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

WSDOT is opening a new SR 509 tolled expressway between South 188th Street near SEA Airport and I-5 near South 212th Street.

The new road will be a four-lane tolled expressway with a toll charged in both directions at the ramps to and from I-5. Only the new portion of SR 509 will be tolled; all existing routes will remain free to use.

The expressway is part of a larger project that, when complete, will create an important north-south alternative to the congested I-5 corridor in south King County and will offer new freight connections between I-5 and the Ports of Tacoma, Seattle, and SEA airport.

WSDOT has published a blog post with additional details about the upcoming tolling plans.

The Kent Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2025 Fall Community Police Academy. Classes will be on Tuesday evenings, for ten weeks, starting September 30, 2025, ending on December 2, 2025. Due to Veterans Day falling on a Tuesday this year (November 11^th), we will hold that week’s session on Wednesday, November 12^th. Each session is from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and held in person at the Kent Police/Fire Training Center located at 24523 116th Ave. SE.

Applications are available online at Community Police Academy Application. For security reasons all applicants must pass a background check.

Reminder: Kent City Hall, the Centennial Center, Kent Commons, Senior Activity Center and Kent Municipal Court will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

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!

There's a lot of excitement heading into their home opener September 28 at accesso ShoWare Center!

📅 Wednesday, September 17 
🕐 3 p.m.
📍 Kent City Hall 

Each spring and fall we host TeamUp2CleanUp: a community-wide day of service to beautify Kent as individuals, schools, businesses, and social groups come together to remove litter at various locations around the city. Make a day of it and join us! 

📅 Saturday, September 27
⌚ 9 a.m. - Noon
📍 East Hill: Grocery Outlet (23910 104 Ave SE)
Downtown: Kherson Park (307 West Gowe)
West Hill: West Hill Plaza (24700 Military Road) or
Sign up to clean your OWN location!

Registration is open for the Fall Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. 

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 Wednesday. 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. - 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.

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.

Grow & Thrive is a hands-on program designed for business owners who’ve been operating for at least a year and are ready to take the next step. Over 12 weeks, participants will work with experts, connect with mentors, and build a plan for sustainable growth, all in a small, supportive cohort.

The next session begins September 16.