Kent Parks Department is encouraging members of the community to participate in cleaning up litter on the Interurban Trail on Martin Luther King Day, January 21 from 1-3 PM. Volunteers will meet at the Kent Lions Skate Park. Trash bags and a limited number of sticks will be provided. Please dress for the weather; poor weather may cancel the event. Pre-registration is requested by January 16, or you can call 253-856-5113 by January 18. Details can be found at http://www.kentwa.gov/ParkVolunteers/.

Volunteer to help Kent Downtown Partnership with holiday decorations and festivities!

Kent Downtown Partnership is asking anyone  interested in helping with holiday decorations and an event for the holidays, to let them know so that they can participate on the committee.  Plans are to hold an an event in November, the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

Contact Barb Smith at barbaras@kentdowntown.org or call 253.813.6976.

Green Kent needs you this Saturday for GREEN KENT DAY ’12! This Saturday Mayor Suzette Cook and hundreds of volunteers will gather at two locations for a tree planting extravaganza. Join volunteers at Morrill Meadows Park and the Green River Natural Resources Area to help plant trees. Work begins at 9 am and ends at noon. The event will include plenty of yummy food and end with a barbecue at Morrill Meadows Park. If you’re ready to volunteer, register online now!

Submitted by Katie Cava for Forterra

Sat., Feb. 4
10 am – 2 pm
Lake Fenwick Park
25828 Lake Fenwick Rd., Kent, WA
YOU can help Pearl Jam mitigate their carbon emissions by volunteering to plant native trees and shrubs at three upcoming events!

Last year Pearl Jam partnered with Forterra to mitigate 7,000 metric tons of carbon emitted during their 2009 world tour. Together we are restoring 33 acres of forested parkland in Kent, Kirkland, Seattle and Redmond. These restoration efforts are part of Forterra’s Green Cities Partnerships, programs with cities and the community that restore our beloved forested parklands.

Volunteers will spend the morning planting native trees, shrubs and ground cover in Lake Fenwick Park while rocking out to Pearl Jam music.

As always, no experience is necessary, and we’ll have all the gloves, tools, and other materials for you, as well as water and snacks. Please remember to bring your own water bottle to re-fill, and/or a mug for coffee.

Wear sturdy shoes and consider long pants and long sleeves. All ages are welcome, although all volunteers under 18 must either be accompanied by an adult or bring a signed waiver (available here).

Please register early by clicking below so that we can plan a great event for our volunteers.  We will follow up with any additional details as we get closer to the date.

EXTRA: Please REGISTER by following this link: http://www.forterra.org/events/2_4_help_pearl_jam_mitigate_their_2009_tour

Get your hands dirty and join Kent Parks, Starbucks and REI to celebrate National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 24 at Lake Fenwick Park, 25828 Lake Fenwick Road, Kent. Volunteers are needed to continue the environmental restoration of the Park’s 140 acres.   Kent has participated in National Public Lands Day for the last five years.  The event on September 24 will be held rain or shine, with orientation beginning at 9:00 am and projects continuing until 12 noon.

Last year was the largest National Public Lands Day in history.  Approximately 170,000 people volunteered at more than 2,000 sites across the nation.  They contributed to over $15 million in improvements to public lands.  The event began in 1994 with 700 volunteers.  It was established as a way to continue the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the 3 million Americans who worked from 1933-1942 to preserve and protect America’s natural heritage.

All ages and abilities are welcome!  Registration is required for planning purposes; the deadline is September 21.  Contact 253-856-5110 or download a registration form at www.KentWAParks.com to volunteer.  Tools and gloves are supplied, but extra shovels and pruners are always welcome.  Volunteers are advised to wear sturdy shoes or boots (no flip-flops or sandals allowed) and to dress for the weather.

The 4th Avenue and Meeker Street Starbucks is donating coffee and hot chocolate, as well as water and snacks, and each volunteer will receive an REI volunteer t-shirt.

Are you tired of seeing graffiti and tags around the City of Kent? If so, you can help.

Join us for Community Graffiti Clean-Up Day on Saturday, September 18 from 8 am to 12 pm. Volunteers are needed in teams of 6 to 10 to help rid our city of this blight. Meet at 8 a.m. at Town Square Plaza (corner of 2nd and Smith St. – across from the Kent Library) to pick up your assignment, paint and supplies.

This is an ideal project for Key clubs, teens needing service hours, neighborhood councils, and individuals and companies who want to make a difference in Kent.

To sign up, contact Sara Wood with the City of Kent.

Next Saturday, June 5 is National Trails Day. Help the City of Kent celebrate by volunteering to work at Clark Lake Park (120th Ave. & SE 240th St.) in Kent. Rain or shine, volunteers will work from 9 a.m. to noon to reconstruct a gravel trail into the park, remove weeds, and plant native trees and shrubs. After the event, Farrington Court is providing lunch!

Sign up by June 2 by completing this form and returning it to Victoria Andrews with Kent Parks, Recreation and Community  Services.

Students? Need community service hours. Three fun hours right here!

Want to help keep Kent clean and well maintained? Then join the city parks department and other volunteers for upcoming volunteer projects. The City of Kent seeks volunteers including corporate work groups, students, scouts, faith-based groups, clubs and individuals to volunteer in Kent parks this spring. Here are just a few of the opportunities available to make a different in the Kent community. Pre-registration is required and must be done at least three days prior to the event. Some events are filled up early, so register well in advance. For registration/volunteer forms, visit KentWAParks.com or call 253-856-5110.

March 19:  Spring Community Pride Day and Graffiti Paint-out

April 23:  Earth Day at Park Orchard Park

April 30:  Arbor Day at West Fenwick Park

June 4:  National Trails Day at Park Orchard Park

July 5:  After-the-Fourth clean-up at several area parks

Home Depot to Help Kent Parks Celebrate
National Trails Day:
$1,000 Grant for June 6th Event

KENT, WA – May 21, 2009 – The Home Depot has once again demonstrated its support of volunteer-based community projects by awarding a $1,000 grant to Kent Parks for its annual National Trails Day event.  Local Team Depot employees will also volunteer their time at the event.

Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited to join Team Depot to help create a new accessible trail at Glenn Nelson Park on Military Road and South 268th Street on Kent’s west hill.  Other improvement projects are also planned.  Orientation is at 9:00 AM and the event concludes at noon.

Now in its 17th year, American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in June.  Kent has participated in the event since 2000 and is among 24 cities, agencies and organizations in Washington planning trail improvement projects this year.  In 2008, volunteers refurbished a trail at Lake Fenwick Park and planted 40 native trees and shrubs near the north trail, contributing over 105 hours to the City and its Parks Department.

The Kent store and its management team, headed by Chuck Carolus and Jeremy Higgins, began partnering with Kent Parks in 2007 for National Public Lands Days.  Their corporate headquarters and the store donated a volunteer trailer, supplies and volunteer labor to construct modular retaining walls at Lake Fenwick Park. They have been participating in community events in our parks ever since.

Glenn Nelson Park was the site of National Trails Day in 2005.  The park was originally used as a pasture for the Seattle Fire Department horses.  King County deeded the property to Kent in 1964.  Between 1966 and 1968, the City worked to clear the area and haul in 2,200 yards of top soil, install fencing, waterlines and gates.  Play equipment, donated by the Kent Lions Club and the Cambridge Club, was installed by Boy Scouts as part of their Eagle Scout advancement projects.  Grants helped complete the park’s amenities, which include tennis courts, a soccer field, picnic shelter, restrooms and parking.

Volunteers are advised to bring work gloves and a shovel, wear sturdy shoes or boots (no sandals allowed) and dress for the weather, as the event is held rain or shine.  To register for National Trails Day and learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities at Kent Parks, please call 253-856-5111, email vandrews@ci.kent.wa.us or visit www.KentWAParks.com.