A lunar rover replica could be coming in 2020 to a downtown Kent park.<\/p>\n
The City Council approved Tuesday spending $123,615 for a company to build the replica, although more than $85,000 of that will come from private fundraising efforts. The rovers were first built at Kent’s Boeing Space Center in 1969. The council’s Parks and Human Services Committee recommended on March 21 that the full council approve the project.<\/p>\n
“We have a great opportunity to build awareness about the amazing innovation that has occurred in our community starting over 50 years ago with Boeing Space Center and the suppliers today engaged in the space race based in Kent,” said Michelle Wilmot, city economic development program manager, in a report to the committee. “It’s a great way to tell our story from the economic and business standpoint, and with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission this year, it’s a great opportunity to leverage attention paid to that feat and to celebrate Kent’s role in this.”<\/p>\n
July 20 marks the 50th anniversary of the first men to land on the moon in 1969 as part of the Apollo 11 mission. Three lunar rovers travelled to the moon on Apollo Missions 15, 16 and 17.<\/p>\n
The Museum of Flight in Tukwila will have a special Apollo 11 exhibit from April 13 through Sept. 2, including a lunar landing celebration July 19-21.<\/p>\n
Kent hopes to install the lunar rover in 2020 as part of the planned improvements at Kherson Park, 317 W. Gowe St., in the heart of downtown.<\/p>\n
“We see this as an interactive piece, where people can take pictures of it and kids can climb on it,” said Terry Jungman, city parks planning and development manager, at the committee meeting.<\/p>\n
The $123,615 contract is with Issaquah-based Northwest Playground Equipment. The company is a local representative of Minnesota-based Cre8Play, a custom park and play environment fabricator that specializes in innovative concepts for play elements. City Parks staff recommended that Cre8Play be the selected vendor to build the replica with the city to purchase it through Northwest Playground Equipment.<\/p>\n