Kent celebrated the grand opening of a community garden in Kent on Wednesday, May 9. Volunteers with World Relief and the Hillside Church kicked off the spring growing season with tours of the Paradise Parking Plots Community Garden, which earned a $75,000 grant through King County’s WaterWorks Grant Program to control polluted runoff through the inventive use of green stormwater infrastructure. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Kent celebrated the grand opening of a community garden in Kent on Wednesday, May 9. Volunteers with World Relief and the Hillside Church kicked off the spring growing season with tours of the Paradise Parking Plots Community Garden, which earned a $75,000 grant through King County’s WaterWorks Grant Program to control polluted runoff through the inventive use of green stormwater infrastructure. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Paradise Parking Plots Community Garden ready to blossom

Public embraces grant-funded community project at grand opening

  • Wednesday, May 16, 2018 4:04pm
  • News

For the Reporter

A former parking lot in Kent is now a community garden that offers food and kinship for newly arrived immigrants and refugees, thanks to countless volunteer hours and funding through King County’s WaterWorks Grant Program.

The public toured the project on Wednesday, May 9 at the Hillside Church, at 930 E. James St. The family friendly event offered children’s activities and international food samples.

King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division allocated $75,000 in funding to a project spearheaded by World Relief Seattle and the Hillside Church to reduce stormwater pollution and control flooding through the inventive use of green stormwater infrastructure.

The result of the hard work is the Paradise Parking Plots Community Garden, a 1-acre site with 50 garden plots irrigated by harvested rainwater collected and stored in four 4,000-gallon cisterns.

In addition to reducing impervious surface and polluted runoff, the transformed site offers a place for community members to bond while growing their own healthy and culturally appropriate food. The garden project will also feature a full-service commercial kitchen, offering classes on harvest preservation including canning, freezing and fermenting techniques.

World Relief Seattle is one of the largest refugee resettlement organizations in the state of Washington that has resettled more than 30,000 refugees in its four decades of operation. More information on King County’s WaterWorks Grants is available online.




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 https://www.kentreporter.com/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.

More in News

Kent police investigate fatal two-vehicle collision

The collision killed a woman and left a 45-year-old Tacoma driver, suspected of intoxication at the time of the crash, hospitalized.

Competing for the 8th Congressional District: Carmen Goers, left, and Kim Schrier. COURTESY PHOTOS
Adam Smith and Kim Schrier will retain Congress seats | Election 2024

Smith represents the 9th Congressional District and Schrier represents the 8th Congressional District.

Courtesy of Democratic Caucus
Pictured left to right: Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D), Rep. David Hackney, and Rep. Steve Bergquist
Democratic incumbents in lead for 11th Legislative District

Bob Hasegawa, David Hackney and Steve Bergquist have strong leads, with Hasegawa and Hackney running unopposed.

Debra Entenman and Kyle Lyebyedyev. File photos
Entenman and Stearns lead in 47th District | Election 2024

The district includes Kent, Covington and Auburn.

File photo
Kent School District levy is failing at the polls | Election 2024

Early election results show voters rejecting the proposed Capital Projects and Technology Levy.

Larry Best, a customer coordinator for quality assurance who has worked at Boeing for 38 years, stands outside of Angel of the Winds Arena with a “vote no” sign on Monday in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists approve contract, ending 52-day strike

After voting no twice, 59% of union members approved the latest contract.

Photos from the United States Attorney's Office Western District of Washington press release.
Kent man arrested in connection to violent drug trafficking gang investigation

Law enforcement seized more than 20 kilograms of fentanyl, 60 firearms, and more than $130,000 in cash.

Courtesy Photo, King County
Son accused of fatally shooting mother’s boyfriend in Kent back in jail

Dondre Butler has 3 violations in 13 months of electronic home detention after charged with murder in 2022

t
Kent Police targeted street patrols result in arrest of two felons

One driver spotted in a vehicle with no plates; another driver reportedly in a stolen vehicle

t
Kent cold case murder suspect back in state after governor’s warrant | Update

Kenneth Kundert fought extradition from Arkansas after August arrest in 1980 killing of Dorothy Silzel

t
City of Kent eyes November opening for Reith Road roundabouts

Two more roundabouts will bring total in city to six; three more in future plans