The City of Kent is looking for one or two strong, committed nonprofits to operate the Morford Family Carousel (at Town Square Plaza in downtown Kent) for the summer.

The club or organization will determine its operating hours, but typically the season begins after Kent Cornucopia Days (mid-July) through the last Sunday in August. Organizations can benefit by accepting donations for rides. One adult and two minors are needed per shift. A strong, committed volunteer work force is needed.

If you are interested, contact Victoria Andrews at Kent Parks at 253-856-5113 or via email by Fri., Mar. 11, 2011

The Morford Family Carousel needs volunteers for shifts throughout the holiday season. Located in Town Square Plaza (2nd and Harrison Streets) in downtown Kent, the carousel is open throughout the holiday season for local children and families to enjoy.

Suggested donations are $1 per ride, and proceeds benefit two local organizations:  Kentwood High School National Honor Society and Children’s Therapy Center via South King County Autism Support Group for Parents.

Carousel volunteers are needed for the following. If you or your organization can help, please contact Angel Townsend at 206-330-4264 or via email.

Carousel Volunteers Needed on…

* Friday, December 17th – 4pm-6:30pm

* Saturday, December 18th – 3pm-6pm and 6pm-8pm

* Sunday, December 19th – 2:30-5pm

* Tuesday, December 21st, 1pm-5pm and 6pm-8pm

* Wednesday,Thursday,Friday, December, 22nd, 23rd, 24th – 1pm-5pm

* Friday, December 31st – 1pm-5pm

It’s easy, it’s fun and it will warm your heart to be a part of the effort!

Updated Nov. 3, 2010, 8:29 p.m.–The City of Kent announced today that the Morford Family Carousel will open this year on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. On Friday, November 26 from 4 to 9pm, the carousel will kick off its fifth holiday season. It will be located at Town Square Plaza at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Harrison Streets, across the street from the Kent Library.

After opening day, the Morford Family Carousel’s hours will be:

Friday:  4 – 8 p.m.
Saturday:  12 – 8 p.m.
Sunday:  12 – 5 p.m.

In addition, there will be Bonus Days during the holiday break from school. The carousel will be open Dec. 20-24 from 1 to 5 pm and December 31 from 1 to 5 pm. The carousel can also be booked for private parties Monday through Thursday. Arrangements for private bookings can be made by contacting the SKC Autisum Support Group via email.  [Notes:  Hours are subject to change due to the weather.]

In addition, the City is planning special musical performances and holiday surprises to draw families to downtown Kent during the holiday season. Once again, the City of Kent is partnering with local nonprofits to operate the carousel as a fundraiser.

This holiday season the nonprofits working the carousel are the Kentwood National Honor Society and the South King County Autism Support Group, with the group’s proceeds going to Children’s Therapy Center. Suggested donations are $1 per ride and will go to the nonprofits to support their respective missions and programs.

For more information, call 253-856-5110 or visit the City of Kent website.

Update-July 2, 2010:  Opening date pushed back to July 16 (was originally set for July 14):

The City of Kent is bringing back the Morford Family Carousel the summer.  Your favorite Kent amusement  ride returns on July 16 at Town Square Plaza, on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Harrison Street in downtown Kent.  You can ride the 1940s classic Venetian-style carousel carousel through August 22 for a $2.00 donation.

This summer the carousel’s donations will benefit the Girl Scout Troop 41104, to help send the girls, next summer, to Savannah, GA, the Girl Scouts’ home base.  They will also be participating in other fundraising efforts including crafts.  So come to Downtown Kent with your family, do some shopping and go for a spin.

Weekly hours (may vary) will be:

Wednesdays, 11 am – 1:30 pm;
Thursdays, 5-8:30 pm;
Fridays, 5-8 pm;
Saturdays, 10:30 am – 3 pm; and
Sundays, 1-5 pm.

For more information, call 253-856-5110 or visit the City’s website at www.ci.kent.wa.us.

This is a reminder that Morford Family Carousel is available through next Sunday. Its last day during the Christmas season is Sunday, December 27.

Visit our previous post on iLoveKent.net for more information.

The Morford Family Carousel begins its fourth holiday season on Friday, November 27^th, from 4:00 – 9:00 PM.  Its familiar home is Town Square Plaza on the corner of 2^nd Avenue and Harrison Street in downtown Kent (next to the Rotary Centennial Sphere and the fountains).  The carousel will be open Friday through Sunday during the holiday season; hours will vary.

The City of Kent is once again partnering with non-profit organizations that will operate the carousel as a fundraiser.  This season they are the Kent-Meridian Filipino-American Club, the Kentwood National Honor Society and the Order of Rainbow for Girls.  Proceeds raised from the suggested $1.00 donation per ride will support the organizations’ missions and programs.  Musical performances and special holiday surprises are planned to make the carousel both a destination and a family tradition.

The Morford Family Carousel is a classic Venetian-style carousel with 19 beautifully painted, carved horses and three special seats, designed by the famous Bertazzon Carousel Company of Italy. In 2006, the Kent Parks Foundation invited the public to purchase the “naming rights” for individual carousel horses. These funds, along with donations from other sources, helped the Foundation purchase the carousel, which was then given to the City of Kent.

For more information, call 253-856-5110 or visit the City’s website at www.ci.kent.wa.us

[Note:  My story on the Morford Family Carousel appears in the December 2009 issue of Kent Magazine with photos by publisher Diana Kramer.]

The Morford Family Carousel will soon become a welcome summer fixture at Town Square Plaza, located on the corner of 2^nd Avenue and Harrison Street in downtown Kent.  The season opens July 17^th and runs through August 30^th.  The carousel will also be open for its final spins Labor Day weekend, September 5^th – 7^th.

Public hours are Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.  The carousel may be available for private bookings during its scheduled closed days.  If interested, contact Victoria Andrews at Kent Parks, 253-856-5113 for more information.

For its debut summer season, the City of Kent is partnering with two local non-profits, DOS FC Premier Soccer Club and Kentwood & South Elite Cheer Boosters.  Proceeds raised from the $1.00 donation per ride will support the organizations’ ongoing missions serving youth.

The Morford Family Carousel is a 1940’s classic Venetian-style carousel with 19 beautifully painted, carved horses and three special seats, designed by the famous Bertazzon Carousel Company of Italy. In 2006, the Kent Parks Foundation invited the public to purchase the “naming rights” for individual carousel horses. These funds, along with donations from other sources, helped the Foundation purchase the carousel, which was then given to the City of Kent.

For more information, call 253-856-5110 or visit the City’s website at www.ci.kent.wa.us

The City of Kent is the fourth largest city in King County, Washington with a population over 88,000. As a culturally rich destination, Kent’s dynamic quality of life features captivating neighborhoods, award-winning parks and nationally accredited police and fire departments. In recent years, Kent has experienced impressive economic growth, and is nationally known as a prime location for manufacturing. For more information, visit www.choosekent.com.

About the Non-profit Carousel Operators

Dos FC Premier is the only premier soccer club in Kent providing the opportunity for over 400 boys and girls to play soccer at the highest level available in Washington state.

Kentwood & South Elite Cheer Boosters: Nationally ranked Kentwood Cheer comprises over 50 male and female athletes and is the largest high school program in Washington.  Their competitive teams are six-time state champions and have been featured on ESPN.  South Elite All-Star Cheer is home of the 2008 World Champions, with nearly 200 athletes of all ages and skill levels from all over the Puget Sound.

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.”