Renovations continue at city of Kent’s Riverbend Driving Range

Work will soon begin on the final phase of renovations at the city of Kent’s Riverbend Golf Complex Driving Range.

Fourteen new driving stalls will be added. Other changes include new restrooms, a golf ball wash area, a reception/retail area and a new entry from the parking lot. A new metal roof will go over the remodeled area. Crews also will install new benches and tables.

The Kent City Council awarded a $1.5 million contract to Tumwater-based Christensen Inc. General Contractor on Jan. 5. Christensen Inc. had the lowest of six bids, which ranged up to $1.7 million.

“We’re excited to get it started,” said Nate Harper, city facilities capital project manager, in his report to the council. “We will get it back open as soon as we can.”

The driving range is expected to close soon for the final renovations. The work will take about 90 days to complete, so it should be done around May 18, Harper said. A grand reopening will be held in late May.

“It will be exciting to see that driving range reopen,” Mayor Dana Ralph said. “It’s one of the most popular attractions there at Riverbend for sure.”

Proceeds from the city’s $10.5 million sale of the Riverbend par 3 golf course in 2017 to the developer of the Ethos Apartments along West Meeker Street, and across from the Riverbend 18-hole course, will help pay for the work.

The first two phases of construction included replacing the artificial turf with natural grass, reshaping and leveling the range field while expanding it out to Russell Road, installing new poles and nets, updating the parking lot and installing a raised crosswalk across West Meeker Street.

City staff expects that once the driving range renovations are complete, the additional stalls will help bring in more revenue to the complex. A city-hired consultant estimated each new stall could bring in about $10,000 a year when the city prepared its plans in 2017 to renovate the driving range and building.