Kent plans Grand Reopening of Hogan Park

Published 4:48 pm Monday, February 26, 2018

Kent city officials will celebrate the Grand Reopening of Hogan Park at Russell Road from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Saturday, March 10.

The city converted the main field at the park, 24400 Russell Road, to synthetic turf from grass for year-round use.

Families, athletes and park lovers can check out the all-weather turf. Mayor Dana Ralph will lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by demonstrations of the multiple sports that will be playable at the field. Previously a baseball and softball field, now in addition to those sports soccer, flag football, rugby and lacrosse can all be played at the park.

The city paid for the project with $962,000 from the parks capital improvement fund (mostly from the real estate excise tax of 0.50 percent on all property sales), a $750,000 grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office and a $25,000 donation from the Kent Lions Club. The city’s capital fund also will cover the state sales tax of about $173,000 on the contract to Snohomish-based Premier Field Development.

Crews installed a pad under the turf at a cost of about $183,000 to enhance player safety and increase the life-cycle of the field.

Premier Field Development has installed numerous synthetic turf fields across the state, including projects at Kentridge and Kentwood high schools.