City weekly update: Springwood Park reopens; summer events, volunteer habitat work and election reminders announced

Staff member, the host of the City of Kent weekly update, announced the grand reopening of Springwood Park and outlined a series of summer parks events, volunteer habitat work and administrative reminders. He said the park on the East Hill now includes play equipment, a zip line and slide, swing sets, a picnic shelter and a walking trail and described the opening day as a community celebration with cupcakes and children playing.

The announcement emphasized local volunteer efforts to maintain parks. The presenter thanked volunteers who worked at a parks work party at Morrow Meadows, describing activities such as removing invasive plants and planting natives in coordination with parks staff. He also said staff, the Green River Coalition and a group from the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) program — visiting students hosted by Green River College — worked on habitat restoration at Riverview Park, removing blackberries and morning glory in an effort to support salmon-side channel habitat.

The host noted motorsport and horse-racing events that draw visitors to the area: Pacific Raceways (technically in unincorporated King County) hosted the NHRA Northwest Nationals, where he said Britney Force set an NHRA record; he also attended Emerald Downs’ annual Kent Stakes and presented awards with Councilmember Trautner.

He promoted upcoming community events and city-run programs: weekly kids concerts at West Fenwick, Thursday concerts at Morrill Meadows (a new location for that series), a parks pop-up at Van Dorn's Landing Park on July 31 and Park Pop-Up activities such as the “sandimal” event at Lake Meridian Park. The Kent Downtown Partnership’s Cajun & Creole Fest is scheduled for Aug. 16 from 2 to 7 p.m., and Cruisin’ Kent is scheduled for Aug. 24 at Kent Station.

The presenter urged residents to sign up their neighborhood for National Night Out on Aug. 5 and said it was the last day to register neighborhoods for city visits. He also reminded residents that the primary election ballot is due Aug. 5, listing city drop-box locations at the YMCA, Kent-Meridian High School and the Regional Justice Center, and noting ballots are postage-paid and must be returned by 8 p.m. on Aug. 5.

The host closed by directing listeners to kentwa.gov/summer for a full calendar of farmers markets, concerts, playground pop-ups, lunches and movies and thanked volunteers and partner organizations for their work.