Karston Jenkins, 4, of Milton, takes a seat in an asphalt roller during the annual City of Kent Public Works Department demonstration day at the accesso ShoWare Center on Thursday. Jenkins attended the event with his mother and his grandmother, who lives in Kent. The event gives people a chance to see what Public Works employees do for the city. STEVE HUNTER, Kent Reporter

Karston Jenkins, 4, of Milton, takes a seat in an asphalt roller during the annual City of Kent Public Works Department demonstration day at the accesso ShoWare Center on Thursday. Jenkins attended the event with his mother and his grandmother, who lives in Kent. The event gives people a chance to see what Public Works employees do for the city. STEVE HUNTER, Kent Reporter

Taking the wheel

Kent’s Public Works Day allows children to climb aboard equipment

Many people, including numerous children and teens, attended the annual City of Kent Public Works Day on Thursday at the accesso ShoWare Center.

The event featured demonstrations that crews perform daily, including keeping drinking water safe, paving Kent streets, filling potholes, trimming trees and more.

In addition to hands-on activities and educational displays, event participants found out about careers in the trades and had the opportunity to climb on some of the Public Works equipment including a backhoe, mower, asphalt roller, excavator and snowplow. Other event highlights included interactive and informational displays and a scavenger hunt.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

Derek Volland, 1, of Bonney Lake, checks out a mower at the annual City of Kent Public Works Department demonstration day at the accesso ShoWare Center on Thursday. Derek attended the event with his brother Dylan, 3, his mother Desiree and his father Todd Volland, a city mechanic. STEVE HUNTER, Kent Reporter

Derek Volland, 1, of Bonney Lake, checks out a mower at the annual City of Kent Public Works Department demonstration day at the accesso ShoWare Center on Thursday. Derek attended the event with his brother Dylan, 3, his mother Desiree and his father Todd Volland, a city mechanic. STEVE HUNTER, Kent Reporter

More in News

Appian Way Apartments, 25818 26th Pl. S., on Kent’s West Hill. COURTESY PHOTO, Apartments.com
Mercy Housing to pay for flood damages at Kent’s Appian Way Apartments

Units damaged after teen driver struck fire hydrant in parking lot

t
Kent-based Puget Sound Fire sends firefighters to combat LA wildfires

Seven firefighters part of group across the state to assist in California

t
Teen crashes into fire hydrant, floods Kent apartments

15-year-old driver reportedly moving car in parking lot when he struck hydrant

t
City of Kent opens two new roundabouts along Reith Road

Contractor wraps up construction along route between West Hill and Valley

File Photo
Death of Kent man, 61, at home in October 2024 ruled homicide

King County Sheriff’s Office says incident ‘remains an open death investigation’

t
Sound Transit light rail stations in Kent closer to completion | Photos

Vehicle testing begins as agency eyes spring 2026 opening of Federal Way Link extension

t
Kent Police bust four people for DUI on New Year’s Day

Officers arrest drivers between 1 and 5 a.m. during extra patrols following New Year’s Eve

Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. FILE PHOTO
Three men charged in 2023 Kent murder of 48-year-old woman

Recent witness information identifying men help lead to charges in July 2023 shooting

FILE PHOTO, Bailey Jo Josie, Sound Publishing
Chase Wilcoxson, father to Matilda, 13, and Eloise,12, places a family photo at the roadside memorial dedicated to his daughters, Buster Brown, 12, and Andrea Hudson, 38, killed in a March 19 crash.
Year in review: Kent’s top stories of 2024

A month-by-month look at several of the headlining stories.

t
Kent Reporter’s most viewed web stories of 2024

Second fatal shooting of Kent-Meridian student in three days leads the list

t
Kent man pleads guilty to attempted luring of 6-year-old girl

Prosecutors initially filed second-degree attempted kidnapping charge in July case

t
Man charged with tagging Kent water tower faces nine other cases

Kyle A. McLaughlin pleads not guilty in two cases but Kent arraignment and other cases continued