Town Square is site of fete
City officials will throw a “Party at the Plaza” starting at 10 a.m. Saturday to celebrate the opening of Town Square Plaza Park, and to kick off a community health initiative.
Residents are invited to check out the floating, green granite sphere that will be one of the featured attractions at plaza. The park is at the corner of West Smith Street and Second Avenue.
The huge granite ball will float on water in a granite base in the middle of Town Square Plaza Park. Residents will be able to rotate the ball by touching it. The sphere is 63 feet in diameter and weighs 13,000 pounds.
The Rotary Club of Kent and the Kent Sunrise Rotary Club donated the sphere to the city in celebration of the 100 years of Rotary International. Seattle Solstice created the sphere, similar to water sculpture projects the company has built at Green River Community College in Auburn and at the Pacific Science Center at Seattle Center. The sphere is slated to be installed Thursday at the plaza.
The “Party at the Plaza” also will be the kickoff for Kent4Health, a citywide health initiative spearheaded by Mayor Suzette Cooke, and organized by a committee of area residents. As part of the health-related festivities that day, Cooke will lead a “Mayor’s Mile” walk through downtown Kent, in which anyone can participate. The walk starts at 11:45 from the park.
Other activities will include live music, clowns, acrobats, wellness vendors, health screenings, hula hooping, games and prize drawings.
“All of us on the Council have long awaited the event because it will be the focal point of the downtown core,” Councilwoman Deborah Ranniger said at the June 17 City Council meeting. “It’s quite exciting to be able to dedicate the park and to kick off the health initiative.”
The 34,500-square foot urban park hosts the Kent Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday through Sept. 27. The plaza also will be the home to the city’s noon Wednesday Picnic Performances, starting July 9. The Morford Family Carousel will be at the plaza during the Christmas holidays.
JV Constructors Inc., of Seattle, received the $3.42 million contract last year from the city to build the plaza.
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
11:30 a.m. – Warm-up for “The Mayor’s Mile” walk
11:45 a.m. – “The Mayor’s Mile” walk begins
Noon to 2 p.m. – Live entertainment
Town Square is site of fete
City officials will throw a “Party at the Plaza” starting at 10 a.m. Saturday to celebrate the opening of Town Square Plaza Park, and to kick off a community health initiative.
Residents are invited to check out the floating, green granite sphere that will be one of the featured attractions at plaza. The park is at the corner of West Smith Street and Second Avenue.
The huge granite ball will float on water in a granite base in the middle of Town Square Plaza Park. Residents will be able to rotate the ball by touching it. The sphere is 63 feet in diameter and weighs 13,000 pounds.
The Rotary Club of Kent and the Kent Sunrise Rotary Club donated the sphere to the city in celebration of the 100 years of Rotary International. Seattle Solstice created the sphere, similar to water sculpture projects the company has built at Green River Community College in Auburn and at the Pacific Science Center at Seattle Center. The sphere is slated to be installed Thursday at the plaza.
The “Party at the Plaza” also will be the kickoff for Kent4Health, a citywide health initiative spearheaded by Mayor Suzette Cooke, and organized by a committee of area residents. As part of the health-related festivities that day, Cooke will lead a “Mayor’s Mile” walk through downtown Kent, in which anyone can participate. The walk starts at 11:45 from the park.
Other activities will include live music, clowns, acrobats, wellness vendors, health screenings, hula hooping, games and prize drawings.
“All of us on the Council have long awaited the event because it will be the focal point of the downtown core,” Councilwoman Deborah Ranniger said at the June 17 City Council meeting. “It’s quite exciting to be able to dedicate the park and to kick off the health initiative.”
The 34,500-square foot urban park hosts the Kent Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday through Sept. 27. The plaza also will be the home to the city’s noon Wednesday Picnic Performances, starting July 9. The Morford Family Carousel will be at the plaza during the Christmas holidays.
JV Constructors Inc., of Seattle, received the $3.42 million contract last year from the city to build the plaza.
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
11:30 a.m. – Warm-up for “The Mayor’s Mile” walk
11:45 a.m. – “The Mayor’s Mile” walk begins
Noon to 2 p.m. – Live entertainment
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