The Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) has selected Town Square Plaza as Best Park in its class (population 35,000+). The award will be presented at the Association’s annual awards banquet, Thursday, April 30, at the Spokane Conference Center.
 
WRPA plays a vital role in promoting public support for parks and recreation and increasing awareness of the necessity to preserve, enhance, and utilize resources for a balanced lifestyle. The Association established seven awards to recognize organizations and individuals, both volunteers and professionals, for their contributions to the park and recreation field. 
 
Open since June 2008, Town Square Plaza’s 35,000-square-foot site was designed to link Kent’s historic downtown with Kent Station.  Its interactive water features, stage for performances, Farmers’ Market and multi-age appeal attract users from dawn to late evening during the summer months.  During the holidays it is the site of the Morford Family Carousel.
 
Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services’ Director Jeff Watling congratulated staff involved, saying, “Town Square Plaza was originally designed as the third phase of a development to include a hotel, condos and a parking garage.  Several months before work was set to begin on our plaza, the developer for the rest of the project went bankrupt, leaving the project with a half-constructed parking garage.  The City of Kent forged ahead and followed through on our commitments.  This award is particularly gratifying in light of the issues we overcame.”