Kent Town Square party June 28

It’s kick-off time in Kent.

Saturday marks Party in the Plaza - the grand opening of Kent’s newest park, and the official start of a citywide health initiative spearheaded by Mayor Suzette Cooke.

The dual-themed event runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Town Square Plaza. The city’s newly minted park is located at the corner of Smith and Second Avenue in downtown Kent, between the city’s downtown business corridor and Kent Station.

Visitors can expect all kinds of activities: live music and other entertainment, wellness vendors, prize drawings, interactive games, and free checks of blood pressure, bone density and metabolism screening. They’ll also get to see the Kent Rotary’s gift to the community: an interactive water sculpture featuring a large granite sphere, which floats on a pool of water.

Cooke also will lead the “Mayor’s Mile” at 11:45 a.m. from the park, taking walkers through downtown Kent.

The walk also kicks off Kent4Health, a new community health initiative that Cooke is spearheading, with the intent of having it become a citizen-driven program. The program now features a Web site listing upcoming health-oriented activities and information (www.kent4health.com) as well as a variety of committees in which residents can take part.

In addition, the Kent Farmers Market will have a “Kids Day” Saturday, dedicated to school-aged youngsters creating an urban garden, and tied in with the Kent4Health initiative.

To learn more about the events, call 253-856-5700, log onto the Kent4Health Web site, or visit the city’s Web site at www.ci.kent.wa.us.

Party at the Plaza

• When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

• Where: Town Square Plaza Park, West Smith Street and Second Avenue

• Schedule:

10 a.m. - Wellness vendors and live entertainment

11:10 a.m. - Kent4Health kick off

11:15 a.m. - Park dedication

11:45 a.m. - “The Mayor’s Mile” walk begins

Noon to 2 p.m. - Live entertainment

Contact Kent Reporter Contributor Laura Pierce at lpierce@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600 ext. 5050.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.