Join Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services on Monday, January 18 for the 2nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.  This year the project is Clean-up at West Hill Skate Park.  The community service project will begin at 2pm and continue until 4pm.  Please make sure to dress warm and wear sturdy shoes and gloves.  Trash bags and pick up sticks will be provided.   Please pre-register by January 14.  For more information or to register visit kentwaparks.com.

Thanks again to Victoria Andrews with the City of Kent for this news:

The West Hill Skate Park turns 10 years old this year, and it’s time for a new look. Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services is looking for talented Kent artists to design a mural that will be spray-painted on the skate bowls. Any Kent resident can submit a drawing and also apply to judge the entries. Drawings will be accepted until April 30.

The park, located on Reith Road and 42nd Avenue South, was built three years after the City’s first skate park, Kent Lions Skate Park on West Smith. According to Parks Director Jeff Watling, “The bowls are frequently tagged with graffiti, and users say that the all-over gray color makes it hard to estimate depth. We feel the solution to both problems is a colorful mural. We’re hoping the winner might also be an in-line skater and/or skateboarder, someone who already uses the park. But the judges will ultimately decide.”

The winning design will be announced on Friday, May 29, and the painting must be completed by June 30. Kent Police received a grant to provide the paint, and Parks staff can help the winning artist recruit volunteers to paint the mural in time for the park’s 10-year anniversary celebration. For an entry form, contact 253-856-5110, vandrews@ci.kent.wa.us or visit www.choosekent.com and click on the Community Calendar.